Cooks, Restaurant salary in Maryland
Cooks, Restaurant in Maryland earn a median of $37,820 a year ($18.19 an hour), based on BLS data for 17,690 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,840 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $37,390. Maryland ranks 20th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 6.4 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.71). The average (mean) salary is $40,120, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Maryland
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,030 | $16.84 |
| 25th percentile | $36,520 | $17.56 |
| Median | $37,820 | $18.19 |
| 75th percentile | $43,980 | $21.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,840 | $23.00 |
| Average (mean) | $40,120 | $19.29 |
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 | $3,151.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,575.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,454.62 |
| Weekly | $727.31 |
| Hourly | $18.19 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in Maryland
| 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 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $37,420 | 7,760 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Maryland
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,500 | $17.07 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,320 | $16.02 |
| 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 35-2014. 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 Maryland?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Maryland is $37,820 a year, or $18.19 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,840 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Maryland?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Maryland earn at least $47,840 a year. The top 25% earn $43,980 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Maryland?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,030 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $36,520 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Maryland?
About 17,690 cooks, restaurant are employed in Maryland, not counting the self-employed.