Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Maryland

Cooks, restaurant in Maryland earn the most in Baltimore (average $39,330 a year) and the least in Hagerstown ($34,690), across the 4 Maryland metro areas we cover. Statewide, BLS puts the cooks, restaurant average at $40,120 and the median at $37,820 for 17,690 workers. The U.S. average for this job is $38,730.

Cooks, Restaurant average salary by city in Maryland

Baltimore$39,330
Lexington Park$38,500
Salisbury$37,090
Hagerstown$34,690

Pay, take-home pay and cost of living

City	Average	Median	25th pct.	Take-home*	Cost of living
Baltimore	$39,330	$37,420	$36,330	$32,125	104
Lexington Park	$38,500	$37,170	$36,090	$31,498	101
Salisbury	$37,090	$35,940	$34,550	$30,432	96
Hagerstown	$34,690	$34,330	$31,200	$28,617	94

*Average salary after federal and state taxes for a single filer; Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.

Cooks, Restaurant salary in other states

Cooks, Restaurant salary by city and state

More about pay in Maryland

Sources and how to read this page

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2014.
U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.

Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.