Food Preparation Workers pay range in Baltimore
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,470 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,780 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Baltimore earn between $33,540 and $37,330.
- $31K10th
- $34K25th
- $35KMedian
- $37K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,910 | $3,076 | $17.75 |
| Median | $35,080 | $2,923 | $16.87 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,540 | $2,795 | $16.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,330 | $3,111 | $17.95 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Baltimore vs. Maryland and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Baltimore earn about the same as the Maryland average ($37,090) and 5% more than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $36,910 | $35,080 | $31,470 | $46,780 | 6,830 |
| Maryland | $37,090 | $35,500 | $31,290 | $45,890 | 13,280 |
| 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 Baltimore
On the average salary of $36,910, a single filer in Baltimore takes home about $30,296 a year, or $2,525 a month and $1,165 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
Is Baltimore a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Baltimore area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.5), so the average $36,910 buys what about $35,325 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Baltimore ($59,070). A typical home costs $405,877, or 11.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Maryland cities
Baltimore ranks 1st of 4 Maryland metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Baltimore$36,910
- Lexington Park$35,080
- Salisbury$33,710
- Hagerstown$32,550
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 Baltimore: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Baltimore?
$17.75 an hour on average, and $16.87 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Baltimore?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,470 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,540, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Baltimore?
About $30,296 a year ($2,525 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,910. Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Baltimore than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% more 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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD (12580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.88, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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