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Average Cooks, Fast Food Salary in the United States

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

How much does a cooks, fast food make in the United States?

The average salary for a cooks, fast food in the United States is $29,760, but the range typically falls between $24,960 and $34,320. This corresponds to an average hourly wage of $14.31, with a range between $12 and $16.5.

There are approximately 673,490 people employed as a cooks, fast food in the United States. With California, North Carolina, Missouri employing the highest number of cooks, fast food.The state with the best pay for a cooks, fast food is Massachusetts, with an average annual salary of $38,120, while Louisiana has the lowest average annual salary of $21,760.

Annual SalaryHourly Wage
10th Percentile$21,800$10.48
25th Percentile$24,960$12
Median$29,260$14.07
75th Percentile$34,320$16.5
90th Percentile$36,510$17.56

Average cooks, fast food salary by location

The salary of a cooks, fast food can vary depending on the state. Below is a map of the United States showing the average annual salary for a cooks, fast food in each state. The darker the color, the higher the salary. The best states for cooks, fast food are Massachusetts, Washington, District of Columbia, Oregon, California while the worst states are Louisiana, Mississippi, West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina.

Lower salary
Higher salary
StateLow-endAverageHigh-end
Alabama$21,570$25,750$29,990
Alaska$27,610$31,760$38,420
Arizona$29,920$32,420$35,190
Arkansas$22,880$27,700$32,610
California$32,480$35,790$40,170
Colorado$29,710$33,250$36,860
Connecticut$29,390$34,110$40,600
Delaware$24,440$29,590$36,740
District of Columbia$35,080$36,900$37,490
Florida$23,550$28,250$35,610
Georgia$18,760$26,490$35,780
Hawaii$26,840$33,840$38,350
Idaho$19,010$25,840$34,830
Illinois$27,660$30,600$34,570
Indiana$20,890$26,680$33,160
Iowa$22,040$28,570$37,350
Kansas$21,420$29,460$35,780
Kentucky$20,570$25,020$30,610
Louisiana$18,060$21,760$26,360
Maine$28,800$34,330$44,910
Maryland$27,560$31,160$35,840
Massachusetts$33,430$38,120$42,880
Michigan$23,880$29,150$36,020
Minnesota$26,340$31,970$36,760
Mississippi$17,590$22,610$28,470
Missouri$26,170$28,820$31,830
Montana$22,820$29,090$35,140
Nebraska$23,190$29,060$35,440
Nevada$21,840$31,290$44,790
New Hampshire$28,610$34,110$41,780
New Jersey$29,740$35,160$44,090
New Mexico$25,600$28,630$34,020
New York$29,540$34,430$36,730
North Carolina$21,040$25,080$29,480
North Dakota$24,740$30,590$36,400
Ohio$21,250$26,500$31,260
Oklahoma$19,170$25,220$29,890
Oregon$29,210$34,020$37,560
Pennsylvania$18,940$26,100$35,090
Rhode Island$29,200$32,950$38,330
South Carolina$18,660$25,490$31,370
South Dakota$23,430$28,730$31,680
Tennessee$20,040$27,210$35,580
Texas$18,970$25,320$33,460
Utah$22,010$28,610$34,120
Vermont$29,580$32,960$35,630
Virginia$24,960$30,250$38,110
Washington$32,740$37,610$43,550
West Virginia$20,980$23,440$27,550
Wisconsin$18,620$27,160$32,550
Wyoming$21,270$29,760$42,490

Even between cities, the salary of a cooks, fast food can vary. For example, the areas with the highest average salary for cooks, fast food is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area, CA with an average salary of $40,690.The city with the lowest average salary for cooks, fast food is Monroe, LA with an average salary of $20,810.

Areas with highest average salaries for cooks, fast food

  1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area, CA - $40,690
  2. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area, WA - $40,270
  3. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward area, CA - $38,850
  4. Boston-Cambridge-Nashua area, MA - $38,580
  5. Barnstable Town, MA - $38,130

Areas with lowest average salaries for cooks, fast food

  1. Monroe, LA - $20,810
  2. Shreveport-Bossier City area, LA - $21,280
  3. Southwest Mississippi nonmetropolitan area, MS - $21,370
  4. Southeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area, MS - $21,530
  5. Baton Rouge, LA - $21,990

Employment trends for cooks, fast food in the United States

The number of cooks, fast food in the United States has been increasing over the years. Since 2020, the number of cooks, fast food has increased by 129,070. On average, the number of cooks, fast food has been increasing by 5.9% each year. The salary of cooks, fast food has been increasing. Since 2020, the salary of cooks, fast food has increased by $5,460. On average, the salary of cooks, fast food has been increasing by 5.6% each year.

Change in salary

Change in employment

How cooks, fast food salaries compare to other food preparation and serving related occupations

Cooks, Fast Food are part of the food preparation and serving related occupations group. Below is a comparison of the average annual salary for cooks, fast food compared to other jobs in the same occupation group. View all food preparation and serving related occupations jobs here.

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