Food Preparation Worker Salary in Hagerstown, MD
Food Preparation Workers in the Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV metro area earn a median $31,290 a year — 11% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,199 take-home, or $2,183 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Hagerstown, MD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,575
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,940
- Medicare (1.45%)$454
- Maryland income tax$1,123
- Take-home pay$26,199
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.75% state
The Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV metro spans Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Hagerstown, MD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,960 | $12.00 | $21,343 | $1,779 |
| 25th percentile | $29,460 | $14.16 | $24,815 | $2,068 |
| Median (50th) | $31,290 | $15.04 | $26,199 | $2,183 |
| 75th percentile | $35,970 | $17.29 | $29,737 | $2,478 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,450 | $18.49 | $31,612 | $2,634 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maryland resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,290 buys in Hagerstown, MD
Prices in Hagerstown, MD are 5.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 24% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $26,199 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,821 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 Hagerstown, MD as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Hagerstown, MD ranks #188 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 |
| 188 | Hagerstown, MD | $31,290 | $26,199 | $27,821 |
*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
- Baltimore, MD — $35,080
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Hagerstown, MD?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV metro area is $31,290 a year, or about $15.04 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,460 and $35,970.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Hagerstown, MD?
On the median $31,290 salary, a single filer living in Maryland takes home about $26,199 a year ($2,183 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,123 in Maryland taxes in 2026.
Is Hagerstown, MD a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 11% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 5.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,821 would in a typical U.S. city. Hagerstown, MD ranks #188 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Hagerstown, MD?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Hagerstown, MD is $952 a month ($1,232 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Hagerstown, MD
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $35,800
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,470
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,330
- Bartender — $33,620
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,200
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,620