Cooks, Fast Food salary in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Cooks, Fast Food in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median of $33,290 a year ($16.01 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,440 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,210 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is about the same as the Maryland statewide median of $33,320. There are 4.0 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $34,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,550 | $15.17 |
| Median | $33,290 | $16.01 |
| 75th percentile | $34,410 | $16.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,210 | $18.37 |
| Average (mean) | $34,070 | $16.38 |
Half of cooks, fast food earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,774.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,387.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,280.38 |
| Weekly | $640.19 |
| Hourly | $16.01 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $33,290 salary, see how much house you can afford in Maryland at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $35,800 | 10,580 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $32,220 | 4,010 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $31,840 | 290 |
| Salisbury, MD | $31,200 | 250 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $27,620 | 1,400 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Maryland statewide figures.
Related jobs in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,420 | $17.99 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,080 | $16.87 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,460 | $17.53 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $39,310 | $18.90 |
| Cooks, All Other | $39,960 | $19.21 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,090 | $15.91 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,760 | $18.63 |
| Bartender | $37,360 | $17.96 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $37,540 | $18.05 |
| Dishwasher | $33,280 | $16.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,710 | $17.17 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $37,390 | $17.98 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, fast food make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $33,290 a year, or $16.01 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn at least $38,210 a year. The top 25% earn $34,410 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $31,550 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
About 5,440 cooks, fast food are employed in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area, not counting the self-employed.