Food Preparation Worker salary in Maryland
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A food preparation worker in Maryland earns a median of $35,500 a year ($17.07/hour equivalent), 0.5% above the national median of $35,320. Maryland ranks #20 of 51 states. About 13,280 people do this job in Maryland.
Take-home pay in Maryland
At the Maryland median, a single filer keeps about $29,384 a year after federal, FICA and Maryland taxes — $1,130 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Maryland paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,365.38
- Federal income tax
- −$80.00
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$84.65
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$19.80
- Maryland income tax
- −$50.78
- Take-home pay
- $1,130.15
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $35,500
- Federal
- $2,080
- FICA
- $2,716
- State + local
- $1,320
- Net
- $29,384
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 4.8%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How Maryland compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Washington | $40,910 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| #3 | California | $39,350 |
| #4 | Colorado | $38,960 |
| #5 | Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| #20 | Maryland | $35,500 |
| #49 | Kentucky | $26,850 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $26,240 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $23,620 |
See the national food preparation worker salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Food Preparation Workers (SOC 35-2021), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Maryland?
The median salary is $35,500 a year and the average is $37,090 (BLS May 2025).
Is Maryland a good state for food preparation workers?
Maryland ranks #20 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 1% above the national median of $35,320.
What is $35,500 after taxes in Maryland?
About $29,384 a year ($1,130 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.