How much does a food preparation worker make in Baltimore?
$35,080a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area. That is $16.87 an hour or $2,923 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.87
- Vs. national median
- -1%
- Rank among cities
- 126 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 6,830
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $31,470Median: $35,080Highest 10%: $46,780
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,470 | $15.13 | |
| 25th | $33,540 | $16.13 | |
| Median | $35,080 | $16.87 | |
| 75th | $37,330 | $17.95 | |
| 90th | $46,780 | $22.49 |
Other cities in Maryland
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| Washington, DC | $37,630 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $34,560 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $33,840 |
| Salisbury, MD | $31,460 |
| Hagerstown, MD | $31,290 |
Related jobs in Baltimore
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $59,290 |
| Cook | $39,960 |
| Cook | $39,310 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $38,760 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $37,540 |
| Cook | $37,420 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $37,390 |
| Bartender | $37,360 |
| Cook | $36,460 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $36,170 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Baltimore?
The median hourly pay in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $16.87 ($35,080 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Baltimore than the national average?
No: $35,080 against $35,320 nationally, 1% less.
How does Baltimore compare with the rest of Maryland?
The median in Maryland is $35,500, so Baltimore pays 1% less.
Where does Baltimore rank for food preparation worker pay?
126 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Baltimore?
The lowest-paid 10% make $31,470 or less a year; the top 10% make $46,780 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.