SOC 35-2019 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, All Other — Maryland
Maryland nonmetropolitan area · 1 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Maryland, MD is $32,150 a year, trailing the national median of $37,690 by 14.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Maryland, MD is $32,150 a year, trailing the national median of $37,690 by 14.7%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $32,150 and $33,040. The lowest tenth earn under $32,150, while the highest tenth earn more than $34,290.
Within the state, Baltimore records the highest median at $39,960. Of the 353 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 347th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,150 | −14.7% |
| 25th | $32,150 | −14.7% |
| Median (50th) | $32,150 | −14.7% |
| 75th | $33,040 | −12.3% |
| 90th | $34,290 | −9.0% |
| Mean | $33,260 | −11.8% |
Other metro areas in Maryland
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore | $39,960 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Maryland run 5.0% above the national average, so the median of $32,150 buys what $30,619 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 18.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$32,150as reported by BLSLocal price level
105.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$30,619US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $32,150 a year, 14.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $32,150 to $34,290 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Baltimore, at $39,960.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, All Other in Maryland, MD?
The median annual wage is $32,150, or $15.46 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $37,690, so pay in Maryland, MD is 14.7% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Maryland, MD earns more than $34,290 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $32,150 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Baltimore, at $39,960 per year.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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