What is the typical salary range for a Cooks, Fast Food?

Pay typically falls between $28,500 and $38,500 per year depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

Cooks, Fast Food Salary: $33,500 Average

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Average base salary

$33,500 / year

≈ $2,800 per month · $16.11 per hour

Location

25th percentile
$28,500Average
$33,50075th percentile
$38,500

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.

About this role

Cooks, Fast Food is a professional role in the Food Preparation and Serving job family, focused on Cooks, Fast Food work. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.

How this role compares

Cooks, Fast Food pays 18% below the average across 17 roles in the Food Preparation and Serving job family (family average $41,000).

Similar-paying roles in Food Preparation and Serving

Fast Food and Counter Workers$33,500

Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$34,000

Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$35,500

Food Preparation Worker$36,500

Cooks, Short Order$37,500

Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$38,000

Cooks, Restaurant$40,000

Cooks, All Other$40,500

Waiters and Waitresses$41,500

Bartender$42,000

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Cooks, Fast Food make?

The average base salary for a Cooks, Fast Food in the United States is $33,500 per year, or about $16.11 per hour.

What is the typical salary range?

Pay typically falls between $28,500 and $38,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

How does this compare with other Food Preparation and Serving roles?

The Food Preparation and Serving job family averages $41,000 across 17 roles tracked by WePayFairly.

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WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.

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