As of March 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Fast Food Cook in the United States is $28,322. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $25,657 to $31,614, with most professionals earning between $23,231 and $34,611.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $31,614 | $2,634 | $608 | $15 |
| Average | $28,322 | $2,360 | $545 | $14 |
| 25th Percentile | $25,657 | $2,138 | $493 | $12 |
An entry-level Fast Food Cook with less than 1 year of experience earns about $27,486. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $27,956. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $29,023. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $29,169, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $29,411.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Fast Food Cook | $27,486 |
| Intermediate Level Fast Food Cook | $27,956 |
| Senior Level Fast Food Cook | $29,023 |
| Specialist Level Fast Food Cook | $29,169 |
| Expert Level Fast Food Cook | $29,411 |
| Entry Level | 3% |
| Mid Level | 1% |
| Senior Level | 2% |
| Top Level | 3% |
| Experienced | 4% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of March 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Fast Food Cook compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $33,155 in 2023 to approximately $33,018 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Fast Food Cook salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Fast Food Cook information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Fast Food Cook job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Fast Food Cook and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $28,322 | 62.0% | ||
| Bonus | $33 | 0.1% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $2,169 | 4.8% | ||
| 401K/403B | $1,191 | 2.6% | ||
| Disability | $567 | 1.2% | ||
| Healthcare | $8,352 | 18.3% | ||
| Pension | $1,531 | 3.4% | ||
| Time Off | $3,490 | 7.6% | ||
| Total Compensation | $45,656 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 7.1% |
| High School | 66.7% |
| Associates | 10.3% |
| Bachelors | 11.9% |
| Masters | 1.6% |
| Doctorate | 2.4% |
What Am I Worth?
The average annual salary of Fast Food Cook is $28,322. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Fast Food Cook is $14; the average weekly pay of Fast Food Cook is $545; the average monthly pay of Fast Food Cook is $2,360.
A Fast Food Cook's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Fast Food Cook earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Fast Food Cook is $35,544.
The highest pay for Fast Food Cook is $34,611.
The lowest pay for Fast Food Cook is $23,231.
Fast Food Cook prepares food for service in a fast food or short-order setting following pre-set guidelines. Responsible for the preparation, presentation, and execution of all items on the menu. Being a Fast Food Cook prepares and cooks menu items to meet product quality and company standards. May require a high school diploma or equivalent. Additionally, Fast Food Cook typically reports to a supervisor. The Fast Food Cook works under the close direction of senior personnel in the functional area. Possesses a moderate understanding of general aspects of the job. May require 0-1 year of general work experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Customer Service: Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
Food Service: The foodservice or catering industry includes the businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home.
Work Ethic: A belief that work and diligence have a moral benefit and an inherent ability, virtue or value to strengthen character and individual abilities. A set of values centered on importance of work and manifested by determination or desire to work hard.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
