SOC 35-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — Baltimore
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Baltimore, MD is $39,310 per year, close to the national median of $37,450 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Baltimore, MD is $39,310 per year, close to the national median of $37,450 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $35,630 at the tenth percentile to more than $48,340 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $36,960 to $45,450.
The area has 1,660 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.2 of every thousand jobs. Salisbury leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $44,430. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 571st of 646 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,630 | −4.9% |
| 25th | $36,960 | −1.3% |
| Median (50th) | $39,310 | +5.0% |
| 75th | $45,450 | +21.4% |
| 90th | $48,340 | +29.1% |
| Mean | $41,670 | +11.3% |
Other metro areas in Maryland
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salisbury | $44,430 | 100 | |
| 2 | Lexington Park | $40,420 | 70 | |
| 3 | Hagerstown | $34,570 | 370 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Baltimore run 5.0% above the national average, so the median of $39,310 buys what $37,438 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 0.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$39,310as reported by BLSLocal price level
105.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$37,438US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $39,310 a year, 5.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,630 to $48,340 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,660 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Salisbury, at $44,430.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Baltimore, MD?
The median annual wage is $39,310, or $18.90 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 $37,450, so pay in Baltimore, MD is 5.0% higher. 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 Baltimore, MD earns more than $48,340 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,630 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 Salisbury, at $44,430 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,660 jobs in this occupation in Baltimore, MD. Self-employed workers are not included.
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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