Chefs and Head Cooks · Maryland

Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Maryland

Chefs and Head Cooks in Maryland earn a median annual wage of $61,590 —1.4% below the national median of $62,470. That ranks MD #26 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$61,590
Median hourly
$29.61
Entry level (P10)
$38,310
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$100,330
90th percentile
Employment
3,220
1.2 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-1.4%
U.S. $62,470

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$38,310
$45,030
$61,590
$78,590
$38,310$61,590$100,330
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $61,590.

Employment concentration (0.91×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Maryland is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Rhode Island$79,930$38.437401.15
2Hawaii$77,360$37.191,2401.53
3District of Columbia$76,420$36.742,0202.23
4Washington$76,010$36.545,3201.16
5North Dakota$74,740$35.931000.19
6New Jersey$74,280$35.719,1001.65
7Wyoming$73,170$35.182400.67
8South Carolina$71,860$34.552,6500.89
9New York$70,670$33.9817,4301.40
10Tennessee$69,810$33.563,8200.91

Related occupations in Maryland

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Maryland.

OccupationMaryland medianU.S. median
Fast Food and Counter Workers$33,660$31,200
Waiters and Waitresses$36,750$35,230
Cooks, Restaurant$37,820$37,390
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$42,450$44,080
Food Preparation Workers$35,500$35,320
Bartenders$37,580$34,340

Frequently asked questions

How much do chefs and head cooks make in Maryland?

The median annual wage for chefs and head cooks in Maryland is $61,590, or $29.61 per hour. That is 1.4% below the national median of $62,470.

What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Maryland?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $38,310 per year ($18.42/hour). The 25th percentile is $45,030.

How many people work as chefs and head cooks in Maryland?

About 3,220 people work in this occupation in Maryland, or 1.2 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Maryland a good state for chefs and head cooks?

Maryland ranks #26 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (0.91x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays chefs and head cooks the most?

Rhode Island has the highest median wage at $79,930 per year, followed by Hawaii ($77,360) and District of Columbia ($76,420).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes