35 Series · SOC 35-2011
Cooks, Fast Food Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $30,890
- Median / year
- $42,910
- Top 10% earn
- -13.5%
- Growth '23–'33
- 641,070
- US workers
Cooks, Fast Food earn a median of $30,890 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $30,890, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $22,580 (10th percentile) to $42,910 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 641,070 US workers. Hawaii pays the most ($48,120), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Cooks, Fast Food earn a median of $30,890, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 0% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Food Preparation and Serving Related, it ranks #17 of 17 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 13.5% by 2033.
- $30,890
- Median annual wage
- Top 100%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #17 of 17
- in Food Preparation and Serving Related
- 1.9×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Hawaii at $48,120. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Cooks, Fast Food (SOC 35-2011) pays a national median of $30,890 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $22,580 at the 10th percentile to $42,910 at the 90th, with a mean of $32,390 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 641,070 Americans work in this occupation across 53 reporting states and 419 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -13.5% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 82,100 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is No formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.6 per 100,000 and injury rate of 2.4 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Hawaii pays the highest state median at $48,120, which is +56% above the national figure. The top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $47,220 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 641,070 jobs Median $30,890/yr
Median Salary
$30,890
per year
Median Hourly
$14.85/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$32,390
average
Employment
641,070
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Cooks, Fast Food pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$30,890 Bottom 1% higher than 0% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 35-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Cooks, Fast Food; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 17 35-series occupations with growth data, Cooks, Fast Food sits on the slower-growing side at -13.5% growth and $30,890 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-13.5%
Declining
Annual Openings
82,100
per year (projected)
Typical Education
No formal educational credential
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → A
Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.6/100K
Injury Rate
2.4/100
Danger Index
9.9/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Cooks, Fast Food roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Active Listening 3.0
Service Orientation 3.0
Speaking 2.8
Social Perceptiveness 2.8
Coordination 2.8
Reading Comprehension 2.6
Critical Thinking 2.6
Monitoring 2.6
Time Management 2.5
Active Learning 2.4
Knowledge Areas
Administration and Management 3.3
Transportation 3.3
Communications and Media 3.2
Customer and Personal Service 3.1
Public Safety and Security 3.1
English Language 3.1
Economics and Accounting 2.7
Sales and Marketing 2.5
Production and Processing 2.3
Computers and Electronics 2.3
Key Tasks
- ▸ Order and take delivery of supplies.
- ▸ Cook the exact number of items ordered by each customer, working on several different orders simultaneously.
- ▸ Prepare specialty foods, such as pizzas, fish and chips, sandwiches, or tacos, following specific methods that usually require short preparation time.
- ▸ Operate large-volume cooking equipment, such as grills, deep-fat fryers, or griddles.
- ▸ Wash, cut, and prepare foods designated for cooking.
- ▸ Prepare and serve beverages, such as coffee or fountain drinks.
- ▸ Clean food preparation areas, cooking surfaces, and utensils.
- ▸ Read food order slips or receive verbal instructions as to food required by patron, and prepare and cook food according to instructions.
- ▸ Serve orders to customers at windows, counters, or tables.
- ▸ Clean, stock, and restock workstations and display cases.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$22,580
25th Percentile
$27,260
Median
$30,890
75th Percentile
$37,260
90th Percentile
$42,910
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 53 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $48,120 | +56% above national |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $44,670 | +45% above national |
| 3 | California | $42,050 | +36% above national |
| 4 | Washington | $39,120 | +27% above national |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $38,590 | +25% above national |
| 6 | Vermont | $38,230 | +24% above national |
| 7 | Oregon | $37,880 | +23% above national |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $37,870 | +23% above national |
| 9 | Colorado | $36,900 | +19% above national |
| 10 | Maine | $36,350 | +18% above national |
| 11 | New York | $35,770 | +16% above national |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $35,230 | +14% above national |
| 13 | Connecticut | $34,980 | +13% above national |
| 14 | Illinois | $34,960 | +13% above national |
| 15 | Minnesota | $34,120 | +10% above national |
| 16 | Alaska | $33,960 | +10% above national |
| 17 | Nevada | $33,840 | +10% above national |
| 18 | Maryland | $33,320 | +8% above national |
| 19 | Arizona | $32,660 | +6% above national |
| 20 | New Jersey | $32,220 | +4% above national |
| 21 | Delaware | $31,840 | +3% above national |
| 22 | Utah | $31,800 | +3% above national |
| 23 | Idaho | $31,070 | +1% above national |
| 24 | South Dakota | $30,950 | same as national |
| 25 | Nebraska | $30,430 | 1% below national |
| 26 | North Dakota | $30,220 | 2% below national |
| 27 | New Mexico | $30,190 | 2% below national |
| 28 | Virginia | $29,950 | 3% below national |
| 29 | Florida | $29,900 | 3% below national |
| 30 | Missouri | $29,890 | 3% below national |
| 31 | Indiana | $29,870 | 3% below national |
| 32 | Michigan | $29,460 | 5% below national |
| 33 | Wyoming | $28,950 | 6% below national |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $28,920 | 6% below national |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | $28,810 | 7% below national |
| 36 | Kansas | $28,640 | 7% below national |
| 37 | Iowa | $28,510 | 8% below national |
| 38 | Tennessee | $28,330 | 8% below national |
| 39 | Texas | $28,280 | 8% below national |
| 40 | Alabama | $27,870 | 10% below national |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $27,720 | 10% below national |
| 42 | Arkansas | $27,710 | 10% below national |
| 43 | South Carolina | $27,420 | 11% below national |
| 44 | North Carolina | $27,190 | 12% below national |
| 45 | Georgia | $26,940 | 13% below national |
| 46 | Ohio | $26,870 | 13% below national |
| 47 | Montana | $26,770 | 13% below national |
| 48 | Louisiana | $24,960 | 19% below national |
| 49 | Kentucky | $23,500 | 24% below national |
| 50 | West Virginia | $23,120 | 25% below national |
| 51 | Mississippi | $22,670 | 27% below national |
| 52 | Puerto Rico | $22,640 | 27% below national |
| 53 | Guam | $21,690 | 30% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 419 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $47,220 | +53% above national |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $46,670 | +51% above national |
| 3 | Napa, CA | $45,300 | +47% above national |
| 4 | Vallejo, CA | $44,450 | +44% above national |
| 5 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $44,030 | +43% above national |
| 6 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $43,840 | +42% above national |
| 7 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $43,630 | +41% above national |
| 8 | Salinas, CA | $43,120 | +40% above national |
| 9 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $42,700 | +38% above national |
| 10 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $42,530 | +38% above national |
| 11 | Modesto, CA | $42,510 | +38% above national |
| 12 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $42,480 | +38% above national |
| 13 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $42,450 | +37% above national |
| 14 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $42,390 | +37% above national |
| 15 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $42,380 | +37% above national |
| 16 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $42,330 | +37% above national |
| 17 | Yuba City, CA | $42,320 | +37% above national |
| 18 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $42,210 | +37% above national |
| 19 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $42,140 | +36% above national |
| 20 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $41,600 | +35% above national |
| 21 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $41,600 | +35% above national |
| 22 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $41,480 | +34% above national |
| 23 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $41,280 | +34% above national |
| 24 | Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $40,710 | +32% above national |
| 25 | Merced, CA | $40,430 | +31% above national |
| 26 | Chico, CA | $40,340 | +31% above national |
| 27 | El Centro, CA | $40,230 | +30% above national |
| 28 | Redding, CA | $39,920 | +29% above national |
| 29 | Visalia, CA | $39,750 | +29% above national |
| 30 | Fresno, CA | $39,620 | +28% above national |
| 31 | Barnstable Town, MA | $39,340 | +27% above national |
| 32 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $39,120 | +27% above national |
| 33 | Missoula, MT | $39,080 | +27% above national |
| 34 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $38,690 | +25% above national |
| 35 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $38,580 | +25% above national |
| 36 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $38,560 | +25% above national |
| 37 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $38,550 | +25% above national |
| 38 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $38,530 | +25% above national |
| 39 | Bellingham, WA | $38,480 | +25% above national |
| 40 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $38,380 | +24% above national |
| 41 | Carson City, NV | $38,210 | +24% above national |
| 42 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $38,210 | +24% above national |
| 43 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $38,130 | +23% above national |
| 44 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $38,000 | +23% above national |
| 45 | Santa Fe, NM | $38,000 | +23% above national |
| 46 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $37,910 | +23% above national |
| 47 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $37,850 | +23% above national |
| 48 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $37,510 | +21% above national |
| 49 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $37,440 | +21% above national |
| 50 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $37,410 | +21% above national |
| 51 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $37,300 | +21% above national |
| 52 | Kingston, NY | $37,150 | +20% above national |
| 53 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $37,090 | +20% above national |
| 54 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $37,030 | +20% above national |
| 55 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $37,010 | +20% above national |
| 56 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $36,990 | +20% above national |
| 57 | Worcester, MA | $36,770 | +19% above national |
| 58 | Yakima, WA | $36,710 | +19% above national |
| 59 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $36,680 | +19% above national |
| 60 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $36,600 | +18% above national |
| 61 | Colorado Springs, CO | $36,560 | +18% above national |
| 62 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $36,550 | +18% above national |
| 63 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $36,380 | +18% above national |
| 64 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $36,350 | +18% above national |
| 65 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $36,310 | +18% above national |
| 66 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $36,260 | +17% above national |
| 67 | Boulder, CO | $36,250 | +17% above national |
| 68 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $36,230 | +17% above national |
| 69 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $36,200 | +17% above national |
| 70 | Greeley, CO | $35,840 | +16% above national |
| 71 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $35,810 | +16% above national |
| 72 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $35,800 | +16% above national |
| 73 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $35,780 | +16% above national |
| 74 | Bend, OR | $35,600 | +15% above national |
| 75 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $35,550 | +15% above national |
| 76 | Glens Falls, NY | $35,490 | +15% above national |
| 77 | Springfield, MA | $35,490 | +15% above national |
| 78 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $35,470 | +15% above national |
| 79 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $35,380 | +15% above national |
| 80 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $35,360 | +14% above national |
| 81 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $35,260 | +14% above national |
| 82 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $35,230 | +14% above national |
| 83 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $35,230 | +14% above national |
| 84 | Corvallis, OR | $34,990 | +13% above national |
| 85 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $34,880 | +13% above national |
| 86 | New Haven, CT | $34,850 | +13% above national |
| 87 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $34,700 | +12% above national |
| 88 | Bangor, ME | $34,560 | +12% above national |
| 89 | Syracuse, NY | $34,490 | +12% above national |
| 90 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $34,380 | +11% above national |
| 91 | Binghamton, NY | $34,290 | +11% above national |
| 92 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $34,270 | +11% above national |
| 93 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $34,210 | +11% above national |
| 94 | Pueblo, CO | $34,180 | +11% above national |
| 95 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $34,180 | +11% above national |
| 96 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $34,160 | +11% above national |
| 97 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $34,130 | +10% above national |
| 98 | Grand Junction, CO | $33,980 | +10% above national |
| 99 | Charlottesville, VA | $33,970 | +10% above national |
| 100 | Anchorage, AK | $33,960 | +10% above national |
| 101 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $33,960 | +10% above national |
| 102 | Flagstaff, AZ | $33,950 | +10% above national |
| 103 | Salem, OR | $33,870 | +10% above national |
| 104 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $33,690 | +9% above national |
| 105 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $33,550 | +9% above national |
| 106 | Rochester, NY | $33,380 | +8% above national |
| 107 | Rockford, IL | $33,380 | +8% above national |
| 108 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $33,290 | +8% above national |
| 109 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $33,210 | +8% above national |
| 110 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $33,190 | +7% above national |
| 111 | Utica-Rome, NY | $33,100 | +7% above national |
| 112 | Rochester, MN | $33,090 | +7% above national |
| 113 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $32,970 | +7% above national |
| 114 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $32,900 | +7% above national |
| 115 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $32,840 | +6% above national |
| 116 | Boise City, ID | $32,810 | +6% above national |
| 117 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $32,470 | +5% above national |
| 118 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $32,380 | +5% above national |
| 119 | Peoria, IL | $32,340 | +5% above national |
| 120 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $32,240 | +4% above national |
| 121 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $32,220 | +4% above national |
| 122 | Kankakee, IL | $31,900 | +3% above national |
| 123 | Lexington Park, MD | $31,840 | +3% above national |
| 124 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $31,840 | +3% above national |
| 125 | St. George, UT | $31,800 | +3% above national |
| 126 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31,480 | +2% above national |
| 127 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31,480 | +2% above national |
| 128 | Bloomington, IL | $31,430 | +2% above national |
| 129 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $31,410 | +2% above national |
| 130 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $31,360 | +2% above national |
| 131 | Midland, TX | $31,240 | +1% above national |
| 132 | Omaha, NE-IA | $31,220 | +1% above national |
| 133 | Dover, DE | $31,200 | +1% above national |
| 134 | Salisbury, MD | $31,200 | +1% above national |
| 135 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31,200 | +1% above national |
| 136 | Rapid City, SD | $31,190 | +1% above national |
| 137 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $31,090 | +1% above national |
| 138 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $31,030 | same as national |
| 139 | St. Cloud, MN | $31,010 | same as national |
| 140 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $30,990 | same as national |
| 141 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $30,890 | same as national |
| 142 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $30,860 | same as national |
| 143 | Tucson, AZ | $30,830 | same as national |
| 144 | Duluth, MN-WI | $30,790 | same as national |
| 145 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $30,780 | same as national |
| 146 | Albuquerque, NM | $30,720 | 1% below national |
| 147 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $30,710 | 1% below national |
| 148 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $30,500 | 1% below national |
| 149 | Logan, UT-ID | $30,500 | 1% below national |
| 150 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $30,460 | 1% below national |
| 151 | Reno, NV | $30,410 | 2% below national |
| 152 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $30,400 | 2% below national |
| 153 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $30,360 | 2% below national |
| 154 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $30,350 | 2% below national |
| 155 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $30,340 | 2% below national |
| 156 | Pocatello, ID | $30,320 | 2% below national |
| 157 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $30,300 | 2% below national |
| 158 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $30,220 | 2% below national |
| 159 | Idaho Falls, ID | $30,170 | 2% below national |
| 160 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $30,170 | 2% below national |
| 161 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $30,110 | 3% below national |
| 162 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $30,090 | 3% below national |
| 163 | Minot, ND | $30,030 | 3% below national |
| 164 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $30,010 | 3% below national |
| 165 | Grand Island, NE | $29,970 | 3% below national |
| 166 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $29,940 | 3% below national |
| 167 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $29,940 | 3% below national |
| 168 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $29,930 | 3% below national |
| 169 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $29,820 | 3% below national |
| 170 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $29,810 | 3% below national |
| 171 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $29,740 | 4% below national |
| 172 | Fargo, ND-MN | $29,710 | 4% below national |
| 173 | Lawrence, KS | $29,700 | 4% below national |
| 174 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $29,700 | 4% below national |
| 175 | Ann Arbor, MI | $29,690 | 4% below national |
| 176 | Madison, WI | $29,640 | 4% below national |
| 177 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $29,620 | 4% below national |
| 178 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $29,620 | 4% below national |
| 179 | Wausau, WI | $29,600 | 4% below national |
| 180 | Richmond, VA | $29,570 | 4% below national |
| 181 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $29,550 | 4% below national |
| 182 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $29,540 | 4% below national |
| 183 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $29,540 | 4% below national |
| 184 | Dubuque, IA | $29,500 | 4% below national |
| 185 | Cheyenne, WY | $29,470 | 5% below national |
| 186 | Jackson, MI | $29,460 | 5% below national |
| 187 | Lincoln, NE | $29,430 | 5% below national |
| 188 | Huntsville, AL | $29,310 | 5% below national |
| 189 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $29,300 | 5% below national |
| 190 | Bloomington, IN | $29,290 | 5% below national |
| 191 | Lynchburg, VA | $29,290 | 5% below national |
| 192 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $29,240 | 5% below national |
| 193 | Corpus Christi, TX | $29,230 | 5% below national |
| 194 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $29,220 | 5% below national |
| 195 | Iowa City, IA | $29,200 | 5% below national |
| 196 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $29,190 | 6% below national |
| 197 | Springfield, MO | $29,190 | 6% below national |
| 198 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $29,190 | 6% below national |
| 199 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $29,170 | 6% below national |
| 200 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $29,160 | 6% below national |
| 201 | Roanoke, VA | $29,160 | 6% below national |
| 202 | Cleveland, OH | $29,120 | 6% below national |
| 203 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $29,120 | 6% below national |
| 204 | Columbia, MO | $29,110 | 6% below national |
| 205 | Kenosha, WI | $29,100 | 6% below national |
| 206 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $29,070 | 6% below national |
| 207 | Appleton, WI | $29,050 | 6% below national |
| 208 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $29,040 | 6% below national |
| 209 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $29,020 | 6% below national |
| 210 | State College, PA | $29,020 | 6% below national |
| 211 | Longview, TX | $28,990 | 6% below national |
| 212 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $28,980 | 6% below national |
| 213 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $28,940 | 6% below national |
| 214 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $28,930 | 6% below national |
| 215 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $28,930 | 6% below national |
| 216 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $28,910 | 6% below national |
| 217 | Ogden, UT | $28,870 | 7% below national |
| 218 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $28,870 | 7% below national |
| 219 | Bozeman, MT | $28,840 | 7% below national |
| 220 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $28,820 | 7% below national |
| 221 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $28,820 | 7% below national |
| 222 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $28,810 | 7% below national |
| 223 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $28,800 | 7% below national |
| 224 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $28,760 | 7% below national |
| 225 | Fond du Lac, WI | $28,750 | 7% below national |
| 226 | Green Bay, WI | $28,740 | 7% below national |
| 227 | Traverse City, MI | $28,740 | 7% below national |
| 228 | Farmington, NM | $28,730 | 7% below national |
| 229 | Eau Claire, WI | $28,700 | 7% below national |
| 230 | Harrisonburg, VA | $28,680 | 7% below national |
| 231 | Jefferson City, MO | $28,600 | 7% below national |
| 232 | Joplin, MO-KS | $28,600 | 7% below national |
| 233 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $28,600 | 7% below national |
| 234 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $28,600 | 7% below national |
| 235 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $28,600 | 7% below national |
| 236 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $28,600 | 7% below national |
| 237 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $28,590 | 7% below national |
| 238 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $28,580 | 7% below national |
| 239 | York-Hanover, PA | $28,520 | 8% below national |
| 240 | Flint, MI | $28,510 | 8% below national |
| 241 | Decatur, AL | $28,480 | 8% below national |
| 242 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $28,440 | 8% below national |
| 243 | Winchester, VA-WV | $28,430 | 8% below national |
| 244 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $28,410 | 8% below national |
| 245 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $28,400 | 8% below national |
| 246 | Las Cruces, NM | $28,390 | 8% below national |
| 247 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $28,390 | 8% below national |
| 248 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $28,380 | 8% below national |
| 249 | Birmingham, AL | $28,320 | 8% below national |
| 250 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $28,290 | 8% below national |
| 251 | Niles, MI | $28,240 | 9% below national |
| 252 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $28,220 | 9% below national |
| 253 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $28,210 | 9% below national |
| 254 | Asheville, NC | $28,120 | 9% below national |
| 255 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $28,120 | 9% below national |
| 256 | Tulsa, OK | $28,100 | 9% below national |
| 257 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $28,070 | 9% below national |
| 258 | Spartanburg, SC | $28,030 | 9% below national |
| 259 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $28,030 | 9% below national |
| 260 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $28,030 | 9% below national |
| 261 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $28,010 | 9% below national |
| 262 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $28,000 | 9% below national |
| 263 | Oklahoma City, OK | $27,990 | 9% below national |
| 264 | Gainesville, GA | $27,890 | 10% below national |
| 265 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $27,880 | 10% below national |
| 266 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $27,840 | 10% below national |
| 267 | Terre Haute, IN | $27,800 | 10% below national |
| 268 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $27,710 | 10% below national |
| 269 | Mobile, AL | $27,700 | 10% below national |
| 270 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $27,690 | 10% below national |
| 271 | Montgomery, AL | $27,650 | 10% below national |
| 272 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $27,620 | 11% below national |
| 273 | Jacksonville, FL | $27,600 | 11% below national |
| 274 | Knoxville, TN | $27,580 | 11% below national |
| 275 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $27,550 | 11% below national |
| 276 | Odessa, TX | $27,520 | 11% below national |
| 277 | Wilmington, NC | $27,500 | 11% below national |
| 278 | Waco, TX | $27,470 | 11% below national |
| 279 | Burlington, NC | $27,450 | 11% below national |
| 280 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $27,390 | 11% below national |
| 281 | Morristown, TN | $27,310 | 12% below national |
| 282 | Winston-Salem, NC | $27,280 | 12% below national |
| 283 | Lancaster, PA | $27,260 | 12% below national |
| 284 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $27,230 | 12% below national |
| 285 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $27,150 | 12% below national |
| 286 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $27,130 | 12% below national |
| 287 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $27,130 | 12% below national |
| 288 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $27,120 | 12% below national |
| 289 | Monroe, MI | $27,120 | 12% below national |
| 290 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $27,110 | 12% below national |
| 291 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $27,100 | 12% below national |
| 292 | Midland, MI | $27,090 | 12% below national |
| 293 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $27,070 | 12% below national |
| 294 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $27,050 | 12% below national |
| 295 | Ocala, FL | $27,040 | 12% below national |
| 296 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $26,990 | 13% below national |
| 297 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $26,980 | 13% below national |
| 298 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $26,950 | 13% below national |
| 299 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $26,940 | 13% below national |
| 300 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $26,940 | 13% below national |
| 301 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $26,930 | 13% below national |
| 302 | Warner Robins, GA | $26,920 | 13% below national |
| 303 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $26,890 | 13% below national |
| 304 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $26,890 | 13% below national |
| 305 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $26,840 | 13% below national |
| 306 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $26,820 | 13% below national |
| 307 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $26,780 | 13% below national |
| 308 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $26,780 | 13% below national |
| 309 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $26,750 | 13% below national |
| 310 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $26,740 | 13% below national |
| 311 | Topeka, KS | $26,680 | 14% below national |
| 312 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $26,660 | 14% below national |
| 313 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $26,640 | 14% below national |
| 314 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $26,640 | 14% below national |
| 315 | Pittsburgh, PA | $26,620 | 14% below national |
| 316 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $26,610 | 14% below national |
| 317 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $26,610 | 14% below national |
| 318 | Jonesboro, AR | $26,580 | 14% below national |
| 319 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $26,570 | 14% below national |
| 320 | Columbus, GA-AL | $26,560 | 14% below national |
| 321 | Chambersburg, PA | $26,550 | 14% below national |
| 322 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $26,550 | 14% below national |
| 323 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $26,480 | 14% below national |
| 324 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $26,440 | 14% below national |
| 325 | Jackson, TN | $26,430 | 14% below national |
| 326 | Johnson City, TN | $26,430 | 14% below national |
| 327 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $26,420 | 14% below national |
| 328 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $26,410 | 15% below national |
| 329 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $26,380 | 15% below national |
| 330 | Mansfield, OH | $26,360 | 15% below national |
| 331 | Gettysburg, PA | $26,350 | 15% below national |
| 332 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $26,300 | 15% below national |
| 333 | Akron, OH | $26,270 | 15% below national |
| 334 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $26,260 | 15% below national |
| 335 | Lima, OH | $26,210 | 15% below national |
| 336 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $26,180 | 15% below national |
| 337 | Amarillo, TX | $26,100 | 16% below national |
| 338 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $26,080 | 16% below national |
| 339 | Dothan, AL | $26,020 | 16% below national |
| 340 | Springfield, OH | $25,980 | 16% below national |
| 341 | Gadsden, AL | $25,900 | 16% below national |
| 342 | Abilene, TX | $25,780 | 17% below national |
| 343 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $25,760 | 17% below national |
| 344 | Enid, OK | $25,730 | 17% below national |
| 345 | Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $25,730 | 17% below national |
| 346 | Lawton, OK | $25,600 | 17% below national |
| 347 | Wichita, KS | $25,580 | 17% below national |
| 348 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $25,530 | 17% below national |
| 349 | Lubbock, TX | $25,500 | 17% below national |
| 350 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $25,480 | 18% below national |
| 351 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $25,480 | 18% below national |
| 352 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $25,470 | 18% below national |
| 353 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $25,470 | 18% below national |
| 354 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $25,450 | 18% below national |
| 355 | Columbus, OH | $25,290 | 18% below national |
| 356 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $25,050 | 19% below national |
| 357 | Altoona, PA | $25,020 | 19% below national |
| 358 | San Angelo, TX | $24,960 | 19% below national |
| 359 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $24,500 | 21% below national |
| 360 | El Paso, TX | $24,390 | 21% below national |
| 361 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $24,360 | 21% below national |
| 362 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $24,340 | 21% below national |
| 363 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $24,260 | 21% below national |
| 364 | Alexandria, LA | $24,170 | 22% below national |
| 365 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $24,050 | 22% below national |
| 366 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $24,050 | 22% below national |
| 367 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $23,990 | 22% below national |
| 368 | Sumter, SC | $23,980 | 22% below national |
| 369 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $23,930 | 23% below national |
| 370 | Elizabethtown, KY | $23,870 | 23% below national |
| 371 | Rocky Mount, NC | $23,710 | 23% below national |
| 372 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $23,710 | 23% below national |
| 373 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $23,690 | 23% below national |
| 374 | Valdosta, GA | $23,640 | 23% below national |
| 375 | Greenville, NC | $23,600 | 24% below national |
| 376 | Hattiesburg, MS | $23,470 | 24% below national |
| 377 | Bowling Green, KY | $23,450 | 24% below national |
| 378 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $23,440 | 24% below national |
| 379 | Fayetteville, NC | $23,430 | 24% below national |
| 380 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $23,410 | 24% below national |
| 381 | Florence, SC | $23,310 | 25% below national |
| 382 | Charleston, WV | $23,180 | 25% below national |
| 383 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $23,140 | 25% below national |
| 384 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $23,110 | 25% below national |
| 385 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $23,090 | 25% below national |
| 386 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $23,040 | 25% below national |
| 387 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $23,030 | 25% below national |
| 388 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $22,970 | 26% below national |
| 389 | Puerto Rico nonmetropolitan area | $22,930 | 26% below national |
| 390 | Jacksonville, NC | $22,900 | 26% below national |
| 391 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $22,900 | 26% below national |
| 392 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $22,900 | 26% below national |
| 393 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $22,890 | 26% below national |
| 394 | Columbia, SC | $22,880 | 26% below national |
| 395 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $22,880 | 26% below national |
| 396 | Arecibo, PR | $22,840 | 26% below national |
| 397 | Aguadilla, PR | $22,780 | 26% below national |
| 398 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $22,780 | 26% below national |
| 399 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $22,680 | 27% below national |
| 400 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $22,680 | 27% below national |
| 401 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $22,610 | 27% below national |
| 402 | Toledo, OH | $22,560 | 27% below national |
| 403 | Albany, GA | $22,550 | 27% below national |
| 404 | Goldsboro, NC | $22,510 | 27% below national |
| 405 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $22,380 | 28% below national |
| 406 | Beckley, WV | $22,370 | 28% below national |
| 407 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $22,350 | 28% below national |
| 408 | Ponce, PR | $22,330 | 28% below national |
| 409 | Jackson, MS | $22,310 | 28% below national |
| 410 | Guayama, PR | $22,260 | 28% below national |
| 411 | Owensboro, KY | $22,260 | 28% below national |
| 412 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $22,250 | 28% below national |
| 413 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $22,170 | 28% below national |
| 414 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $22,020 | 29% below national |
| 415 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $21,970 | 29% below national |
| 416 | Mayaguez, PR | $21,930 | 29% below national |
| 417 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $21,860 | 29% below national |
| 418 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $21,630 | 30% below national |
| 419 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $21,620 | 30% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 35 (food preparation and serving) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Cooks, Fast Food make? ▼
The median annual salary for Cooks, Fast Food is $30,890 ($14.85/hour). The salary range spans from $22,580 at the 10th percentile to $42,910 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Cooks, Fast Food the most? ▼
Hawaii pays the highest median salary for Cooks, Fast Food at $48,120/year, which is +56% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Cooks, Fast Food? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Cooks, Fast Food is No formal educational credential. On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Cooks, Fast Food? ▼
Cooks, Fast Food has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.6 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 2.4 per 100 workers.
Is Cooks, Fast Food a good career? ▼
Employment for Cooks, Fast Food is projected to decline 13.5% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 82,100 openings are projected each year.
How does Cooks, Fast Food pay vary by state? ▼
Cooks, Fast Food salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $48,120/year, while Kentucky pays the least at $23,500/year. BLS data covers 53 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Cooks, Fast Food? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Cooks, Fast Food is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $47,220/year. BLS reports wage data for 419 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Cooks, Fast Food pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $37,260/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Hawaii leads at $48,120/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.