Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Food Preparation Workers actually take home in Virginia?
Progressive (up to 5.8%) — 19.0% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Food Preparation Workers earning $34,900 in Virginia (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $34,900 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$2,204 | 6.3% |
| Virginia State Income Tax | -$1,749 | 5.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$2,163 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$506 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$6,623 | 19.0% |
| Take-Home Pay | $28,276 | 81.0% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Food Preparation Workers in Virginia.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $28,460 | -$4,987 | $23,472 | 17.5% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $30,940 | -$5,617 | $25,322 | 18.2% |
| Median (P50) | $34,900 | -$6,623 | $28,276 | 19.0% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $37,310 | -$7,235 | $30,074 | 19.4% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $42,480 | -$8,548 | $33,931 | 20.1% |
After federal income tax ($2,204), state tax ($1,749), and FICA ($2,669), a Food Preparation Workers in Virginia takes home $28,276 per year — or $2,356 per month. The effective tax rate of 19.0% is relatively low compared to the national range.
A Food Preparation Workers in Virginia faces an effective total tax rate of only 19.0%, keeping 81.0% of every gross dollar. That leaves $28,277 net out of $34,900 gross — a favorable outcome compared to states with combined rates above 30%.
Virginia uses a progressive state income tax, so brackets escalate as wages rise. For this Food Preparation Workers salary the state tax works out to $1,749 (5.0% effective) — on top of federal and FICA.
Federal tax on this Food Preparation Workers salary is $2,204 (33%), but combined state ($1,749, 26%) + FICA ($2,670, 40%) make up the other 67% of the bill.
A Food Preparation Workers earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $30,026 — only $1,749 (6.2%) more than in Virginia.
Virginia ranks #26 of 51 states for Food Preparation Workers after-tax pay — lower half of the national distribution. Either gross wages trail the national median, state tax is elevated, or both.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $28,277 net/year works out to $2,356/month or $1,088/bi-weekly for this Food Preparation Workers in Virginia — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Food Preparation Workers keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Virginia ranks #26 out of 51 states for Food Preparation Workers after-tax take-home pay.
A Food Preparation Workers in Virginia earning a median salary of $34,900 will take home approximately $28,276 per year after federal income tax ($2,204), state income tax ($1,749), and FICA ($2,669). That is $2,356 per month or $1,087 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Food Preparation Workers in Virginia is 19.0%, broken down as: federal income tax 6.3%, Virginia state tax 5.0%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.6%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
Virginia has a progressive (up to 5.8%). On a Food Preparation Workers's median salary of $34,900, the state income tax amounts to $1,749 per year, which is an effective state rate of 5.0%.
After all taxes, a Food Preparation Workers in Virginia takes home approximately $2,356 per month, or about $13.59 per hour (based on a standard 2,080-hour work year). These figures assume a single filer, standard deduction, and no additional pre-tax deductions.
We start with the 2025 BLS median salary of $34,900 for Food Preparation Workers in Virginia, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), Virginia state income tax (progressive (up to 5.8%)), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $28,276/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
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This estimate assumes a single filer using the 2024 standard deduction ($14,600), with W-2 employment income only. It does not account for: itemized deductions, tax credits (e.g. earned income credit, child tax credit), local/city taxes, pre-tax contributions (401k, HSA, FSA), self-employment tax, or additional income sources. Actual take-home pay may differ. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Salary: BLS OEWS · Tax: IRS + State DOR