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Fast food cook salary
Average fast food cook salary
$12.54
Average Fast Food Cook Salary
The average salary for a fast food cook is $26,093 per year, translating to about $13 per hour. These figures reflect the entry-level positions typically found in the fast food industry. Salaries can fluctuate based on factors such as geographical location, years of experience, and the specific fast food establishment.
How Location Affects Earnings
Fast food cooks in urban areas often earn more due to the higher cost of living and increased demand for food services. For instance, states like California and New York may offer higher wages than rural areas.
Experience Matters
Experience plays a crucial role in salary determination. Entry-level cooks may start at the lower end of the scale, while those with several years of experience can command salaries closer to $30,000 annually. Advancement within the industry, such as transitioning to supervisory roles, can further enhance earnings.
Job Opportunities
As the fast food industry continues to grow, the demand for skilled cooks remains strong. With flexible hours and opportunities for advancement, this role is ideal for individuals entering the workforce or looking for part-time employment. Consider exploring job listings and applying through our platform for immediate openings in your area.
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Where can a Fast Food Cook earn more?
Fast food cook salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level fast food cook | $19,600 | $9.40 |
| Mid-level fast food cook | $23,600 | $11.36 |
| Senior-level fast food cook | $28,100 | $13.50 |
Fast food cook salary estimates from across the web
Average fast food cook salary by state
The average fast food cook salary in Massachusetts, Washington, and New Jersey are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average fast food cook salary states are Kansas, Indiana, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for fast food cooks
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $31,293 | $15.04 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $34,867 | $16.76 |
| 3 | Washington | $34,302 | $16.49 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $31,479 | $15.13 |
| 5 | Maine | $31,795 | $15.29 |
| 6 | Vermont | $32,908 | $15.82 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $33,073 | $15.90 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $32,087 | $15.43 |
| 9 | Georgia | $27,607 | $13.27 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $29,851 | $14.35 |
| 11 | Florida | $26,436 | $12.71 |
| 12 | New York | $31,212 | $15.01 |
| 13 | Missouri | $26,854 | $12.91 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $28,895 | $13.89 |
| 15 | Idaho | $28,159 | $13.54 |
| 16 | Colorado | $27,585 | $13.26 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $27,651 | $13.29 |
| 18 | Arizona | $25,684 | $12.35 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $30,063 | $14.45 |
| 20 | Michigan | $26,358 | $12.67 |
| 21 | Alaska | $26,721 | $12.85 |
| 22 | Illinois | $26,597 | $12.79 |
| 23 | Oregon | $29,261 | $14.07 |
| 24 | California | $30,160 | $14.50 |
| 25 | South Carolina | $24,606 | $11.83 |
| 26 | Delaware | $27,094 | $13.03 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $24,052 | $11.56 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $25,388 | $12.21 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $25,225 | $12.13 |
| 30 | Ohio | $24,798 | $11.92 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $30,849 | $14.83 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $29,993 | $14.42 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $22,232 | $10.69 |
| 34 | Utah | $24,653 | $11.85 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $23,484 | $11.29 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $22,284 | $10.71 |
| 37 | Montana | $23,989 | $11.53 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $22,942 | $11.03 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $22,803 | $10.96 |
| 40 | Iowa | $22,835 | $10.98 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $22,740 | $10.93 |
| 42 | Maryland | $25,906 | $12.45 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $23,137 | $11.12 |
| 44 | Indiana | $21,987 | $10.57 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $23,676 | $11.38 |
| 46 | Texas | $21,104 | $10.15 |
| 47 | Virginia | $23,092 | $11.10 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $20,174 | $9.70 |
| 49 | Alabama | $21,651 | $10.41 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $20,440 | $9.83 |
| 51 | Kansas | $22,023 | $10.59 |
Highest paying cities for fast food cooks
The highest-paying cities for fast food cooks are Boston, MA, Hoboken, NJ, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $34,998 | $16.83 |
| 2 | Hoboken, NJ | $33,443 | $16.08 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $31,045 | $14.93 |
| 4 | Brooklyn Park, MN | $29,921 | $14.39 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $29,908 | $14.38 |
| 6 | Appleton, WI | $28,713 | $13.80 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $27,662 | $13.30 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $27,581 | $13.26 |
| 9 | Anchorage, AK | $26,599 | $12.79 |
| 10 | Panama City, FL | $26,577 | $12.78 |
| 11 | Bethlehem, PA | $25,864 | $12.43 |
| 12 | Mesa, AZ | $25,649 | $12.33 |
| 13 | McLean, VA | $23,808 | $11.45 |
| 14 | Houma, LA | $23,448 | $11.27 |
| 15 | Albuquerque, NM | $23,180 | $11.14 |
| 16 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $22,886 | $11.00 |
| 17 | Knoxville, TN | $22,275 | $10.71 |
| 18 | Dallas, TX | $21,140 | $10.16 |
Fast food cook salary details
A fast food cook's salary ranges from $19,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $34,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a fast food cook's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 75th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| Average | $26,093 | $2,174 | $13 |
| 25th Percentile | $22,000 | $1,833 | $11 |
| 10th Percentile | $19,000 | $1,583 | $9 |
Highest paying fast food cook jobs
The highest paying types of fast food cooks are lead cook, assistant cook, and breakfast cook.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pizza Maker | $28,431 | $2,369 | $13.67 | 187,931 |
| Cook/Dishwasher | $31,703 | $2,642 | $15.24 | 133,000 |
| Line Cook, Prep Cook | $32,982 | $2,748 | $15.86 | 164,756 |
| Cook/Server | $29,716 | $2,476 | $14.29 | 257,582 |
| Food Preparer | $27,717 | $2,310 | $13.33 | 134,113 |
| Grill Cook | $31,895 | $2,658 | $15.33 | 184,603 |
Top companies hiring fast food cooks now:
Which companies pay fast food cooks the most?
Fast food cook salaries at Dell and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average fast food cook salary at companies like Sutter Health and Hy-Vee are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dell | $62,712 | $30.15 |
| 2 | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | $37,712 | $18.13 |
| 3 | Sutter Health | $33,828 | $16.26 |
| 4 | Hy-Vee | $32,365 | $15.56 |
| 5 | Hudson Group | $32,009 | $15.39 |
| 6 | Compass Group USA | $31,958 | $15.36 |
| 7 | Planit | $31,912 | $15.34 |
| 8 | H-E-B | $31,661 | $15.22 |
| 9 | Memorial Healthcare System | $29,492 | $14.18 |
| 10 | Providence Health & Services | $29,281 | $14.08 |
| 11 | CovenantHealth | $28,743 | $13.82 |
| 12 | Sam | $28,616 | $13.76 |
| 13 | Hayden & Associates Inc. | $28,227 | $13.57 |
| 14 | Raising Cane's | $27,946 | $13.44 |
| 15 | Sodexo Management, Inc. | $27,231 | $13.09 |
| 16 | Virtual Employee | $27,089 | $13.02 |
| 17 | Aramark | $27,083 | $13.02 |
| 18 | M R Co | $26,680 | $12.83 |
| 19 | Fountains Country Club | $24,689 | $11.87 |
| 20 | Country Springs Hotel | $24,258 | $11.66 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Fast food cook salary trends
The average fast food cook salary has risen by $6,089 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average fast food cook earned $20,004 annually, but today, they earn $26,093 a year. That works out to a 19% change in pay for fast food cooks over the last decade.
Compare fast food cook salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average fast food cook salary over time
Compare fast food cook salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Fast food cook salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $26,100 | $12.54 | +3.5% |
| 2025 | $25,200 | $12.10 | +4.5% |
| 2024 | $24,000 | $11.56 | +5.1% |
| 2023 | $22,800 | $10.97 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | $21,900 | $10.51 | +4.3% |
Recently added fast food cook salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pursuit | Fast Food Cook (Glacier NP) | Pony, MT | 06/29/2025 | $33,392 |
| Trinity Health Corporation | Cook-Food & Nutrition Department-Rotating Shifts | Maywood, IL | 06/13/2025 | $36,523 |
| Hy-Vee | Fast and Fresh Cook | Peoria, IL | 06/12/2025 | $31,305 |
| Aramark Corp | Fast Food Cook-Concessions Citi Field Home of The New York Mets | New York, NY | 06/09/2025 | $42,992 |
| Pursuit | Fast Food Cook (Glacier NP) | Pony, MT | 05/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| Makiin Concepts | Fast Food Dishwasher and Prep Cook | Houston, TX | 05/10/2025 | $25,044 |
| Aramark Corp | Cook-Bluecrest Detox-Food | Flemington, NJ | 05/07/2025 | $46,227 |
| Country Springs Hotel | Fast Food Cook-Pizza, Grill | Pewaukee, WI | 05/07/2025 | $31,305 |
| Pursuit | Fast Food Cook (Glacier NP) | Pony, MT | 04/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| Pursuit Collection | Fast Food Cook (Glacier NP) | Jackson, WY | 04/24/2025 | $33,392 |
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