Food Preparation Workers pay range in Parkersburg
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,460 a year or less, while the top 10% make $34,870 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Parkersburg earn between $23,010 and $30,170.
- $21K10th
- $23K25th
- $27KMedian
- $30K75th
- $35K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $27,740 | $2,312 | $13.34 |
| Median | $27,370 | $2,281 | $13.16 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $23,010 | $1,918 | $11.06 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $30,170 | $2,514 | $14.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Parkersburg vs. West Virginia and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Parkersburg earn about the same as the West Virginia average ($28,450) and 21% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -23% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parkersburg | $27,740 | $27,370 | $21,460 | $34,870 | 160 |
| West Virginia | $28,450 | $28,360 | $21,570 | $35,890 | 2,960 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Parkersburg
On the average salary of $27,740, a single filer in Parkersburg takes home about $23,798 a year, or $1,983 a month and $915 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Parkersburg a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Parkersburg area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.1), so the average $27,740 buys what about $31,861 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Parkersburg ($42,000). A typical home costs $171,206, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other West Virginia cities
Parkersburg ranks 6th of 7 West Virginia metro areas for this job; Morgantown pays the most ($30,150).
- Morgantown$30,150
- Wheeling$30,070
- Weirton$28,920
- Charleston$28,740
- Beckley$27,910
- Parkersburg$27,740
- Huntington$26,880
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Parkersburg: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Parkersburg?
$13.34 an hour on average, and $13.16 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Parkersburg?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,460 a year and the 25th percentile is $23,010, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Parkersburg?
About $23,798 a year ($1,983 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $27,740.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Parkersburg than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2021; area Parkersburg-Vienna, WV (37620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.77, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.77).
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