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Food Preparation Workers Salary in Maryland

What Food Preparation Workers earn in Maryland, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 12 counties.

Average in MD
$35,902
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
9 of 24
published states
Workers in state
34,290
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
3
12 counties

Pay by labor market in Maryland

Food Preparation Workers pay by wage area in Maryland
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$37,630$30,910−$3,034Montgomery County, MD
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$35,080$28,982$1,986Baltimore County, MD
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$34,560$28,589$2,397Cecil County, MD

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Food Preparation Workers in Maryland counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1Cecil County, MD$34,560$28,589$2,397
2Baltimore County, MD$35,080$28,982$1,986
3Anne Arundel County, MD$35,080$28,982$1,986
4Baltimore city, MD$35,080$28,982$1,986
5Howard County, MD$35,080$28,982$1,986
6Harford County, MD$35,080$28,982$1,986
7Carroll County, MD$35,080$28,982$1,986
8Queen Anne's County, MD$35,080$28,982$1,986
9Montgomery County, MD$37,630$30,910−$3,034
10Prince George's County, MD$37,630$30,910−$3,034
11Frederick County, MD$37,630$30,910−$3,034
12Charles County, MD$37,630$30,910−$3,034

Food Preparation Workers pay in Maryland

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Food Preparation Workers in Maryland is $35,902, based on 34,290 workers. Among the 24 states with published data, that ranks number 9. The BLS national median for the occupation is $35,320, so Maryland averages 1.6% above it.

Inside Maryland, pay depends on the labor market. The highest local median is $37,630 in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV area and the lowest is $34,560 in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, a difference of $3,070 across 3 wage areas.

Cost of living for Food Preparation Workers in Maryland

We compare 12 Maryland counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. Cecil County, MD leaves the largest yearly margin, $2,397. In Charles County, MD the basics cost $3,034 more than take-home pay. The median wage covers all four basics in 8 of the 12 counties.

Food Preparation Workers in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Food Preparation Workers are Washington ($40,765), California ($39,696), New Hampshire ($39,052) and Massachusetts ($38,435).

Frequently asked questions: Food Preparation Workers in Maryland

How much do Food Preparation Workers earn in Maryland?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $35,902, from $34,560 to $37,630 depending on the labor market.

Which Maryland county is best for Food Preparation Workers?

Cecil County, MD leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics ($2,397). Baltimore County, MD follows at $1,986.