Cooks, Fast Food pay in the United States
In the U.S., the median pay for cooks, fast food is $14.85 an hour ($30,890 a year). About 641,070 people work in this job there.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in the U.S.
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $10.86 | $22,580 |
| 25% of workers | $13.11 | $27,260 |
| Half of workers (median) | $14.85 | $30,890 |
| 75% of workers | $17.92 | $37,260 |
| 90% of workers | $20.63 | $42,910 |
Best-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 | 0 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 | 2,760 |
| California | $42,050 | 124,440 |
| Washington | $39,120 | 9,020 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 | 1,330 |
| Vermont | $38,230 | 640 |
| Oregon | $37,880 | 4,300 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 | 0 |
| Colorado | $36,900 | 9,220 |
| Maine | $36,350 | 1,470 |
Pay by state
- Alabama · $27,870
- Alaska · $33,960
- Arizona · $32,660
- Arkansas · $27,710
- California · $42,050
- Colorado · $36,900
- Connecticut · $34,980
- Delaware · $31,840
- District of Columbia · $44,670
- Florida · $29,900
- Georgia · $26,940
- Idaho · $31,070
- Illinois · $34,960
- Indiana · $29,870
- Iowa · $28,510
- Kansas · $28,640
- Kentucky · $23,500
- Louisiana · $24,960
- Maine · $36,350
- Maryland · $33,320
- Michigan · $29,460
- Minnesota · $34,120
- Mississippi · $22,670
- Missouri · $29,890
- Montana · $26,770
- Nebraska · $30,430
- Nevada · $33,840
- New Hampshire · $38,590
- New Jersey · $32,220
- New Mexico · $30,190
- New York · $35,770
- North Carolina · $27,190
- North Dakota · $30,220
- Ohio · $26,870
- Oklahoma · $27,720
- Oregon · $37,880
- Pennsylvania · $28,810
- Rhode Island · $35,230
- South Carolina · $27,420
- South Dakota · $30,950
- Tennessee · $28,330
- Texas · $28,280
- Utah · $31,800
- Vermont · $38,230
- Virginia · $29,950
- Washington · $39,120
- West Virginia · $23,120
- Wisconsin · $28,920
- Wyoming · $28,950
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, fast food
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: None (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +0.6% over ten years, little or no change · about 86,400 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,200 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,390 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $35,320 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,450 |
| Bakers | $37,160 |
| Food Batchmakers | $42,290 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,880 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $40,140 |
Other job titles for this job
Open cooks, fast food jobs on JAI Bot
No open jobs in this field right now. Search all jobs or set up a free job alert.
Hiring cooks, fast food? Use the free hiring guide for a job description and interview questions, then post the job on JAI Bot. Every job shows typical pay to job seekers.
Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.