Food Preparation Worker salary in Maryland
Food Preparation Workers in Maryland earn a median of $35,500 a year ($17.07 an hour), based on BLS data for 13,280 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,890 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $35,320. Maryland ranks 20th of 51 states for food preparation workers pay. There are 4.8 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $37,090, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Maryland
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,290 | $15.04 |
| 25th percentile | $33,020 | $15.88 |
| Median | $35,500 | $17.07 |
| 75th percentile | $38,470 | $18.50 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,890 | $22.06 |
| Average (mean) | $37,090 | $17.83 |
Half of food preparation workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,958.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,479.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,365.38 |
| Weekly | $682.69 |
| Hourly | $17.07 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Preparation Worker salary in cities in Maryland
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $37,630 | 14,810 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $35,080 | 6,830 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $34,560 | 10,780 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $33,840 | 300 |
| Salisbury, MD | $31,460 | 320 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $31,290 | 560 |
Highest-paying states for food preparation workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| California | $39,350 |
| Colorado | $38,960 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 |
| Oregon | $37,450 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 |
| Arizona | $36,750 |
Related jobs in Maryland
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,820 | $18.19 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,320 | $16.02 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $41,380 | $19.89 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,800 | $17.69 |
| Cooks, All Other | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,660 | $16.18 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $42,450 | $20.41 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| Bartender | $37,580 | $18.07 |
| Dishwasher | $34,030 | $16.36 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,860 | $16.76 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,650 | $17.62 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $37,500 | $18.03 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Maryland
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Maryland?
The median salary for food preparation workers in Maryland is $35,500 a year, or $17.07 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,890 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Maryland?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in Maryland earn at least $45,890 a year. The top 25% earn $38,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Maryland?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,290 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $33,020 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Maryland?
About 13,280 food preparation workers are employed in Maryland, not counting the self-employed.