Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median of $39,310 a year ($18.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,660 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,340 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $37,450. Pay here is 5% lower than the Maryland statewide median of $41,380. There are 1.2 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.43). The average (mean) salary is $41,670, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,630 | $17.13 |
| 25th percentile | $36,960 | $17.77 |
| Median | $39,310 | $18.90 |
| 75th percentile | $45,450 | $21.85 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,340 | $23.24 |
| Average (mean) | $41,670 | $20.04 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria 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 | $3,275.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,637.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,511.92 |
| Weekly | $755.96 |
| Hourly | $18.90 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $39,310 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, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $44,880 | 5,670 |
| Salisbury, MD | $44,430 | 100 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $40,420 | 70 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $38,870 | 9,810 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $34,570 | 370 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
See Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria 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, Fast Food | $33,290 | $16.01 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,460 | $17.53 |
| 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 35-2012. 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, institution and cafeteria make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $39,310 a year, or $18.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,340 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn at least $48,340 a year. The top 25% earn $45,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,630 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $36,960 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
About 1,660 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area, not counting the self-employed.