Food Preparation Worker Salary in Baltimore, MD
Food Preparation Workers in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median $35,080 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,064 take-home, or $2,422 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Baltimore, MD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,030
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,175
- Medicare (1.45%)$509
- Maryland income tax$1,303
- Take-home pay$29,064
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.75% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Baltimore, MD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,470 | $15.13 | $26,335 | $2,195 |
| 25th percentile | $33,540 | $16.13 | $27,900 | $2,325 |
| Median (50th) | $35,080 | $16.87 | $29,064 | $2,422 |
| 75th percentile | $37,330 | $17.95 | $30,765 | $2,564 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,780 | $22.49 | $37,909 | $3,159 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maryland resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,080 buys in Baltimore, MD
Prices in Baltimore, MD are 4.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $29,064 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,816 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are about as common in Baltimore, MD as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Baltimore, MD ranks #189 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 189 | Baltimore, MD | $35,080 | $29,064 | $27,816 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Maryland
- Hagerstown, MD — $31,290
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Baltimore, MD?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $35,080 a year, or about $16.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,540 and $37,330.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Baltimore, MD?
On the median $35,080 salary, a single filer living in Maryland takes home about $29,064 a year ($2,422 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,303 in Maryland taxes in 2026.
Is Baltimore, MD a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 4.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,816 would in a typical U.S. city. Baltimore, MD ranks #189 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Baltimore, MD?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Baltimore, MD is $1,511 a month ($1,857 for two bedrooms) — 62% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Baltimore, MD
- Chef and Head Cook — $59,290
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $39,310
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,760
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $37,540
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,420
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $37,390
- Bartender — $37,360
- Cooks, Short Order — $36,460
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,170
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,710
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $34,320
- Cooks, Fast Food — $33,290