Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Baltimore
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,630 a year or less, while the top 10% make $48,340 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Baltimore earn between $36,960 and $45,450.
- $36K10th
- $37K25th
- $39KMedian
- $45K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,670 | $3,472 | $20.03 |
| Median | $39,310 | $3,276 | $18.90 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,960 | $3,080 | $17.77 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $45,450 | $3,788 | $21.85 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Baltimore vs. Maryland and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Baltimore earn about the same as the Maryland average ($42,750) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $41,670 | $39,310 | $35,630 | $48,340 | 1,660 |
| Maryland | $42,750 | $41,380 | $35,520 | $49,750 | 3,370 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Baltimore
On the average salary of $41,670, a single filer in Baltimore takes home about $33,894 a year, or $2,825 a month and $1,304 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
Is Baltimore a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Baltimore area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.5), so the average $41,670 buys what about $39,881 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Baltimore ($59,070). A typical home costs $405,877, or 9.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Maryland cities
Baltimore ranks 3rd of 4 Maryland metro areas for this job; Salisbury pays the most ($46,120).
- Salisbury$46,120
- Lexington Park$41,710
- Baltimore$41,670
- Hagerstown$36,370
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Baltimore: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Baltimore?
$20.04 an hour on average, and $18.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Baltimore?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,630 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Baltimore?
About $33,894 a year ($2,825 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,670. Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Baltimore than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
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 35-2012; area Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD (12580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.8%.
- 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.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.43, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.43).
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