How much does a cook make in Baltimore?
$36,460a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area. That is $17.53 an hour or $3,038 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.53
- Vs. national median
- +2%
- Rank among cities
- 61 of 237
- Jobs in the area
- 1,940
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $31,840Median: $36,460Highest 10%: $44,540
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,840 | $15.31 | |
| 25th | $36,250 | $17.43 | |
| Median | $36,460 | $17.53 | |
| 75th | $44,540 | $21.41 | |
| 90th | $44,540 | $21.41 |
Other cities in Maryland
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Washington, DC | $39,650 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $36,250 |
| Hagerstown, MD | $31,840 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $31,360 |
Related jobs in Baltimore
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $59,290 |
| Cook | $39,960 |
| Cook | $39,310 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $38,760 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $37,540 |
| Cook | $37,420 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $37,390 |
| Bartender | $37,360 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $36,170 |
| Food Server | $35,710 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Baltimore?
The median hourly pay in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $17.53 ($36,460 a year).
Do cooks make more in Baltimore than the national average?
Yes: $36,460 against $35,880 nationally, 2% more.
How does Baltimore compare with the rest of Maryland?
The median in Maryland is $36,800, so Baltimore pays 1% less.
Where does Baltimore rank for cook pay?
61 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Baltimore?
The lowest-paid 10% make $31,840 or less a year; the top 10% make $44,540 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.