Cooks, Fast Food salary in Maryland
Cooks, Fast Food in Maryland earn a median of $33,320 a year ($16.02 an hour), based on BLS data for 10,960 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,210 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $30,890. Maryland ranks 18th of 51 states for cooks, fast food pay. There are 4.0 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $34,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Maryland
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,360 | $15.08 |
| Median | $33,320 | $16.02 |
| 75th percentile | $35,700 | $17.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,210 | $18.37 |
| Average (mean) | $34,260 | $16.47 |
Half of cooks, fast food 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 | $2,776.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,388.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,281.54 |
| Weekly | $640.77 |
| Hourly | $16.02 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in cities in Maryland
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $35,800 | 10,580 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $33,290 | 5,440 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $32,220 | 4,010 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $31,840 | 290 |
| Salisbury, MD | $31,200 | 250 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $27,620 | 1,400 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
Related jobs in Maryland
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,820 | $18.19 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,500 | $17.07 |
| 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 35-2011. 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 cooks, fast food make in Maryland?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in Maryland is $33,320 a year, or $16.02 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Maryland?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in Maryland earn at least $38,210 a year. The top 25% earn $35,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Maryland?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $31,360 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Maryland?
About 10,960 cooks, fast food are employed in Maryland, not counting the self-employed.