Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median of $59,290 a year ($28.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,740 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,580 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 4% lower than the Maryland statewide median of $61,590. There are 1.3 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $63,640, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,760 | $18.15 |
| 25th percentile | $44,060 | $21.18 |
| Median | $59,290 | $28.50 |
| 75th percentile | $77,640 | $37.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,580 | $44.99 |
| Average (mean) | $63,640 | $30.60 |
Half of chefs and head cooks 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 | $4,940.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,470.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,280.38 |
| Weekly | $1,140.19 |
| Hourly | $28.50 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $59,290 salary, see how much house you can afford in Maryland at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $74,900 | 4,680 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $65,680 | 5,700 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $59,510 | 40 |
| Salisbury, MD | $59,470 | 50 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $58,820 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Maryland statewide figures.
Related jobs in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,760 | $18.63 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,090 | $15.91 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,420 | $17.99 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,080 | $16.87 |
| Bartender | $37,360 | $17.96 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $37,540 | $18.05 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,290 | $16.01 |
| Dishwasher | $33,280 | $16.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,710 | $17.17 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $37,390 | $17.98 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,460 | $17.53 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $39,310 | $18.90 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. 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 chefs and head cooks make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $59,290 a year, or $28.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn at least $93,580 a year. The top 25% earn $77,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,760 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $44,060 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
About 1,740 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area, not counting the self-employed.