SOC 35-2015 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Short Order — Baltimore
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD · 2 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Baltimore, MD is $36,460 per year, close to the national median of $35,880 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Baltimore, MD is $36,460 per year, close to the national median of $35,880 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $36,250 and $44,540. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $31,840 and the ninetieth at $44,540.
Employment stands at 1,940, or 1.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Lexington Park records the highest median at $36,250. Of the 646 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 604th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,840 | −11.3% |
| 25th | $36,250 | +1.0% |
| Median (50th) | $36,460 | +1.6% |
| 75th | $44,540 | +24.1% |
| 90th | $44,540 | +24.1% |
| Mean | $38,190 | +6.4% |
Other metro areas in Maryland
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexington Park | $36,250 | 110 | |
| 2 | Hagerstown | $31,840 | 110 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Baltimore run 5.0% above the national average, so the median of $36,460 buys what $34,724 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 3.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$36,460as reported by BLSLocal price level
105.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$34,724US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,460 a year, 1.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,840 to $44,540 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,940 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Lexington Park, at $36,250.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Baltimore, MD?
The median annual wage is $36,460, or $17.53 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 $35,880, so pay in Baltimore, MD is 1.6% 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 $44,540 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,840 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 Lexington Park, at $36,250 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,940 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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