How much does a Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Baltimore, MD?

Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Baltimore, MD

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD

Median annual salary $61,430 +0.7% vs national

Median hourly $29.53

10th percentile $36,880

90th percentile $90,050

Employed locally 1,670

National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Baltimore, MD stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →

Chefs and Head Cooks

Baltimore, MD

Salary percentile breakdown

10th

$36,880

25th

$45,520

50th (median)

$61,430

75th

$77,300

90th

$90,050

Baltimore economic context

Unemployment rate 3.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS

Median household income $97,300 2023 • Census ACS

Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 63% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 37% below the area median household income

Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

Metro area	Median salary
Kahului-Wailuku, HI	$87,410
Morgantown, WV	$87,280
Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area	$85,370
Terre Haute, IN	$83,880
East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area	$81,720
Hawaii	$81,200

Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

Metro area	Median salary
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$68,260
Lexington Park, MD	$64,400
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$63,360
Salisbury, MD	$57,260
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV	$55,160

Related occupations in Baltimore, MD

Occupation	Median salary
Fast Food and Counter Workers	$31,200
Waiters and Waitresses	$34,770
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers	$41,420
Cooks, Restaurant	$36,690
Bartenders	$34,560
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers	$36,010

Frequently asked questions

How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Baltimore?

The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Baltimore, MD is $29.53, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $44.99 or more per hour.

Is Baltimore above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Baltimore, MD is 0.7% above the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Baltimore?

Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $36,880 per year in Baltimore, MD. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $45,520.