Cooks, Short Order Salary in Baltimore, MD
Cooks, Short Order in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median $36,460 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,107 take-home, or $2,509 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, short order salary in Baltimore, MD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,195
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,261
- Medicare (1.45%)$529
- Maryland income tax$1,368
- Take-home pay$30,107
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.75% state
Cooks, Short Order pay by experience in Baltimore, MD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,840 | $15.31 | $26,615 | $2,218 |
| 25th percentile | $36,250 | $17.43 | $29,949 | $2,496 |
| Median (50th) | $36,460 | $17.53 | $30,107 | $2,509 |
| 75th percentile | $44,540 | $21.41 | $36,216 | $3,018 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,540 | $21.41 | $36,216 | $3,018 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maryland resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,460 buys in Baltimore, MD
Prices in Baltimore, MD are 4.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, short order's $30,107 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,814 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Baltimore, MD has 1.6× the national concentration of cooks, short order jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cooks, short order, adjusted for cost of living
Baltimore, MD ranks #27 of 45 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $50,870 | $43,054 | $38,741 |
| 2 | Providence, RI | $44,050 | $36,539 | $35,903 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $46,450 | $38,051 | $35,303 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $44,200 | $36,458 | $34,466 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $45,990 | $37,706 | $34,147 |
| 6 | Sioux Falls, SD | $35,570 | $30,760 | $33,940 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $38,490 | $32,235 | $33,900 |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | $37,830 | $32,576 | $33,815 |
| 27 | Baltimore, MD | $36,460 | $30,107 | $28,814 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 45 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, short order make in Baltimore, MD?
The median cooks, short order salary in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $36,460 a year, or about $17.53 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,250 and $44,540.
What is a cooks, short order’s take-home pay in Baltimore, MD?
On the median $36,460 salary, a single filer living in Maryland takes home about $30,107 a year ($2,509 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,368 in Maryland taxes in 2026.
Is Baltimore, MD a good place to work as a cooks, short order?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $35,880. Local prices are 4.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,814 would in a typical U.S. city. Baltimore, MD ranks #27 of 45 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, short order afford rent in Baltimore, MD?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Baltimore, MD is $1,511 a month ($1,857 for two bedrooms) — 60% of a median cooks, short order’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Baltimore, MD
- Chef and Head Cook — $59,290
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $39,310
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,760
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $37,540
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,420
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $37,390
- Bartender — $37,360
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,170
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,710
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,080
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $34,320
- Cooks, Fast Food — $33,290