Cooks, Restaurant salary in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Cooks, Restaurant in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median of $37,420 a year ($17.99 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,760 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,870 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 1% lower than the Maryland statewide median of $37,820. There are 5.7 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.63). The average (mean) salary is $39,330, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,250 | $16.95 |
| 25th percentile | $36,330 | $17.47 |
| Median | $37,420 | $17.99 |
| 75th percentile | $42,110 | $20.25 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,870 | $22.53 |
| Average (mean) | $39,330 | $18.91 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $3,118.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,559.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,439.23 |
| Weekly | $719.62 |
| Hourly | $17.99 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $42,920 | 29,670 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $38,270 | 24,220 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $37,170 | 530 |
| Salisbury, MD | $35,940 | 320 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $34,330 | 800 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Maryland statewide figures.
Related jobs in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,080 | $16.87 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,290 | $16.01 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,460 | $17.53 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $39,310 | $18.90 |
| Cooks, All Other | $39,960 | $19.21 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,090 | $15.91 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,760 | $18.63 |
| Bartender | $37,360 | $17.96 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $37,540 | $18.05 |
| 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 |
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 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $37,420 a year, or $17.99 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,870 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn at least $46,870 a year. The top 25% earn $42,110 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,250 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $36,330 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
About 7,760 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area, not counting the self-employed.