Cooks (Fast Food)
O*NET title: Cooks, Fast Food
Prepare and cook food in a fast food restaurant with a limited menu. Duties of these cooks are limited to preparation of a few basic items and normally involve operating large-volume single-purpose cooking equipment.
Also called: Cook, Cook Line Worker, Fast Food Cook, Fast Food Fry Cook, Fast Food Worker, Food Cook
Median pay
$30,890
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$22,580 – $42,910
People employed
641,070
Holland code
RCE
Realistic · Conventional · Enterprising
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 2.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
- 3.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
- 4.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
Cooks (Fast Food) pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What cooks (fast food) do
- 01Read food order slips or receive verbal instructions as to food required by patron, and prepare and cook food according to instructions.
- 02Maintain sanitation, health, and safety standards in work areas.
- 03Clean food preparation areas, cooking surfaces, and utensils.
- 04Operate large-volume cooking equipment, such as grills, deep-fat fryers, or griddles.
- 05Take food and drink orders and receive payment from customers.
- 06Cook the exact number of items ordered by each customer, working on several different orders simultaneously.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
Knowledge
- Food Production
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Production and Processing
- Administration and Management
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
Education and first steps
O*NET has no education survey data for this job.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from cooks (fast food)
- Butchers and Meat Cutters88% · +30%
- Bakers86% · +20%
- Fast Food and Counter Workers86% · +1%
- Baristas84% · group pay
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant82% · +14%
Change into cooks (fast food)
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Fast Food and Counter Workers86% · $31,200
- Baristas84% · $31,200
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers81% · $33,980
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant80% · $35,360
- Bakers79% · $37,160