Cooks, Fast Food Salary — US State Breakdown (2025)
✓ Sourced directly from BLS OES · Checked for accuracy at every rebuild · Last updated: 2026-09-02
BLS OES May 2025 · SOC 35-2011As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links below are affiliate links.
US Salary Overview
The national median wage for cooks, fast food in the United States is $30,890 per year (gross, before tax), based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). Around 641,000 people are employed in this occupation nationally. UK data is not available for this occupation — the UK's SOC 2020 classification has no direct equivalent. Signing an offer? Employment contract templates at LawDepot cover offer letters, NDAs and employment agreements.
US Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual (gross) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,580 | Entry level / lowest decile |
| 25th | $27,260 | Early career |
| 50th (median) | $30,890 | Typical pay |
| 75th | $37,260 | Experienced |
| 90th | $42,910 | Senior / highest decile |
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| State | Median salary | Mean salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 | $41,670 | — |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 | $43,710 | 3,000 |
| California | $42,050 | $41,490 | 124,000 |
| Washington | $39,120 | $41,420 | 9,000 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 | $40,390 | 1,000 |
| Vermont | $38,230 | $37,110 | 640 |
| Oregon | $37,880 | $39,310 | 4,000 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 | $40,080 | — |
| Colorado | $36,900 | $38,400 | 9,000 |
| Maine | $36,350 | $36,740 | 1,000 |
| New York | $35,770 | $36,800 | 12,000 |
| Rhode Island | $35,230 | $33,960 | 1,000 |
| Connecticut | $34,980 | $36,360 | 4,000 |
| Illinois | $34,960 | $35,340 | 13,000 |
| Minnesota | $34,120 | $34,010 | 5,000 |
| Alaska | $33,960 | $34,320 | 2,000 |
| Nevada | $33,840 | $34,060 | 6,000 |
| Maryland | $33,320 | $34,260 | 11,000 |
| Arizona | $32,660 | $33,330 | 11,000 |
| New Jersey | $32,220 | $35,240 | 3,000 |
| Delaware | $31,840 | $35,780 | 850 |
| Utah | $31,800 | $34,230 | 4,000 |
| Idaho | $31,070 | $29,060 | 2,000 |
| South Dakota | $30,950 | $31,230 | 2,000 |
| Nebraska | $30,430 | $31,910 | 3,000 |
| North Dakota | $30,220 | $31,850 | 580 |
| New Mexico | $30,190 | $32,010 | 2,000 |
| Virginia | $29,950 | $31,980 | 13,000 |
| Florida | $29,900 | $32,230 | 23,000 |
| Missouri | $29,890 | $30,990 | 56,000 |
| Indiana | $29,870 | $30,720 | 7,000 |
| Michigan | $29,460 | $30,400 | 14,000 |
| Wyoming | $28,950 | $30,030 | 890 |
| Wisconsin | $28,920 | $29,310 | 7,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $28,810 | $30,580 | 9,000 |
| Kansas | $28,640 | $29,460 | 2,000 |
| Iowa | $28,510 | $27,600 | 8,000 |
| Tennessee | $28,330 | $29,480 | 14,000 |
| Texas | $28,280 | $29,680 | 36,000 |
| Alabama | $27,870 | $27,570 | 27,000 |
| Oklahoma | $27,720 | $28,200 | 9,000 |
| Arkansas | $27,710 | $27,770 | 8,000 |
| South Carolina | $27,420 | $28,080 | 9,000 |
| North Carolina | $27,190 | $27,080 | 82,000 |
| Georgia | $26,940 | $27,560 | 13,000 |
| Ohio | $26,870 | $27,860 | 12,000 |
| Montana | $26,770 | $30,260 | 820 |
| Louisiana | $24,960 | $25,130 | 3,000 |
| Kentucky | $23,500 | $25,300 | 22,000 |
| West Virginia | $23,120 | $24,720 | 16,000 |
| Mississippi | $22,670 | $23,560 | 11,000 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,640 | $25,130 | 4,000 |
| Guam | $21,690 | $21,800 | 650 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a cooks, fast food in the US?
The US national median wage for cooks, fast food is $30,890 per year (gross, before tax), based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
What is the pay range for cooks, fast food in the US?
Pay ranges from $22,580 at the 10th percentile to $42,910 at the 90th percentile. This difference typically reflects experience level, employer size, and location.
Which US states pay cooks, fast food the most?
The highest-paying states for cooks, fast food include Hawaii ($48,120), District of Columbia ($44,670), California ($42,050). Pay varies by state due to cost of living, local demand and industry concentration.
How much does cooks, fast food salary vary by state?
The gap between the highest- and lowest-paying states is significant — Hawaii ($48,120) pays roughly 122% more than Guam ($21,690). Check the state breakdown above for the exact figure in your location.
Data: BLS OES, May 2025 · Page built 2026-09-02