Food Preparation Workers pay range in Salisbury
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $37,130 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Salisbury earn between $31,200 and $35,320.
- $31K10th
- $31K25th
- $31KMedian
- $35K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,710 | $2,809 | $16.21 |
| Median | $31,460 | $2,622 | $15.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,320 | $2,943 | $16.98 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Salisbury vs. Maryland and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Salisbury earn 9% less than the Maryland average ($37,090) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salisbury | $33,710 | $31,460 | $31,200 | $37,130 | 320 |
| 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 Salisbury
On the average salary of $33,710, a single filer in Salisbury takes home about $27,876 a year, or $2,323 a month and $1,072 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% 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 Salisbury a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salisbury area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.6), so the average $33,710 buys what about $35,255 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Salisbury ($48,710). A typical home costs $429,483, or 12.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Maryland cities
Salisbury ranks 3rd of 4 Maryland metro areas for this job; Baltimore pays the most ($36,910).
- 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 Salisbury: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Salisbury?
$16.21 an hour on average, and $15.13 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Salisbury?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Salisbury?
About $27,876 a year ($2,323 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,710. 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 Salisbury than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Salisbury, MD (41540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 1.03, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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