Cooks (Fast Food) Salary by State
The national median pay for cooks (fast food) is $30,890 a year. By state, it ranges from $22,670 in Mississippi to $48,120 in Hawaii.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $22,580
- 25th percentile
- $27,260
- Median
- $30,890
- 75th percentile
- $37,260
- Top 10%
- $42,910
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job. About 641,070 jobs.
Median pay in 50 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $48,120 | +56% | $29,120 | $53,580 | Not published |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $44,670 | +45% | $36,480 | $51,260 | 2,760 |
| 3 | California | $42,050 | +36% | $35,750 | $48,750 | 124,440 |
| 4 | Washington | $39,120 | +27% | $35,330 | $44,860 | 9,020 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $38,590 | +25% | $35,720 | $45,930 | 1,330 |
| 6 | Vermont | $38,230 | +24% | $31,540 | $39,650 | 640 |
| 7 | Oregon | $37,880 | +23% | $31,610 | $49,240 | 4,300 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $37,870 | +23% | $35,590 | $48,140 | Not published |
| 9 | Colorado | $36,900 | +19% | $31,970 | $46,610 | 9,220 |
| 10 | Maine | $36,350 | +18% | $31,350 | $44,280 | 1,470 |
| 11 | New York | $35,770 | +16% | $32,770 | $40,250 | 11,710 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $35,230 | +14% | $31,200 | $38,470 | 1,210 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $34,980 | +13% | $34,010 | $42,640 | 3,630 |
| 14 | Illinois | $34,960 | +13% | $31,200 | $40,580 | 13,430 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $34,120 | +10% | $24,550 | $39,560 | 5,190 |
| 16 | Alaska | $33,960 | +10% | $30,160 | $37,760 | 2,250 |
| 17 | Nevada | $33,840 | +10% | $26,530 | $43,440 | 5,890 |
| 18 | Maryland | $33,320 | +8% | $31,200 | $38,210 | 10,960 |
| 19 | Arizona | $32,660 | +6% | $30,580 | $36,440 | 11,210 |
| 20 | New Jersey | $32,220 | +4% | $32,220 | $41,860 | 3,440 |
| 21 | Delaware | $31,840 | +3% | $31,200 | $48,870 | 850 |
| 22 | Utah | $31,800 | +3% | $27,760 | $47,200 | 4,400 |
| 23 | Idaho | $31,070 | +1% | $18,620 | $35,860 | 1,610 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $30,950 | 0% | $25,410 | $34,910 | 1,720 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $30,430 | −1% | $28,080 | $36,910 | 2,900 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $30,220 | −2% | $23,060 | $38,480 | 580 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $30,190 | −2% | $27,860 | $37,550 | 1,800 |
| 28 | Virginia | $29,950 | −3% | $27,400 | $37,730 | 12,520 |
| 29 | Florida | $29,900 | −3% | $27,460 | $41,400 | 22,600 |
| 30 | Missouri | $29,890 | −3% | $28,600 | $35,290 | 55,780 |
| 31 | Indiana | $29,870 | −3% | $24,050 | $37,310 | 6,830 |
| 32 | Michigan | $29,460 | −5% | $25,960 | $37,240 | 14,340 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $28,950 | −6% | $21,240 | $42,520 | 890 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $28,920 | −6% | $22,550 | $34,920 | 6,900 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | $28,810 | −7% | $22,610 | $42,380 | 9,240 |
| 36 | Kansas | $28,640 | −7% | $22,480 | $38,680 | 1,610 |
| 37 | Iowa | $28,510 | −8% | $15,080 | $40,810 | 8,290 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $28,330 | −8% | $20,380 | $38,330 | 14,020 |
| 39 | Texas | $28,280 | −8% | $20,800 | $39,140 | 36,240 |
| 40 | Alabama | $27,870 | −10% | $22,640 | $34,170 | 26,740 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $27,720 | −10% | $22,340 | $36,900 | 8,860 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $27,710 | −10% | $23,770 | $32,720 | 7,860 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $27,420 | −11% | $21,690 | $37,140 | 9,110 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $27,190 | −12% | $21,890 | $34,860 | 81,980 |
| 45 | Georgia | $26,940 | −13% | $20,800 | $36,810 | 12,940 |
| 46 | Ohio | $26,870 | −13% | $22,500 | $35,570 | 12,310 |
| 47 | Montana | $26,770 | −13% | $22,090 | $47,100 | 820 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $24,960 | −19% | $20,890 | $29,640 | 3,000 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $23,500 | −24% | $21,220 | $30,000 | 21,750 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $23,120 | −25% | $21,600 | $28,300 | 16,490 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $22,670 | −27% | $18,540 | $28,790 | 11,170 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Cooks (Fast Food) salary questions
Which state pays cooks (fast food) the most?
Hawaii, with a median of $48,120 a year (+56% vs. the national median of $30,890). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays cooks (fast food) the least?
Mississippi, with a median of $22,670 a year (−27% vs. national).
Where do most cooks (fast food) work?
California has the most jobs, about 124,440, with a median of $42,050.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.