Food Preparation Workers pay range in Wheeling
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,850 a year or less, while the top 10% make $35,810 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Wheeling earn between $26,280 and $33,940.
- $23K10th
- $26K25th
- $29KMedian
- $34K75th
- $36K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $30,070 | $2,506 | $14.46 |
| Median | $29,040 | $2,420 | $13.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $26,280 | $2,190 | $12.63 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $33,940 | $2,828 | $16.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Wheeling
On the average salary of $30,070, a single filer in Wheeling takes home about $25,612 a year, or $2,134 a month and $985 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
The Wheeling, WV-OH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in OH | $25,963 | $2,164 |
| Working in WV | $25,612 | $2,134 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Wheeling a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wheeling area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.3), so the average $30,070 buys what about $34,045 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Wheeling ($44,250). A typical home costs $141,852, or 4.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other West Virginia cities
Wheeling ranks 2nd 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 Wheeling: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Wheeling?
$14.46 an hour on average, and $13.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Wheeling?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,850 a year and the 25th percentile is $26,280, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Wheeling?
About $25,612 a year ($2,134 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,070.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Wheeling than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($35,748).
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 Wheeling, WV-OH (48540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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 0.92, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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