Cooks, Fast Food salary in Bellingham, WA
Cooks, Fast Food in the Bellingham, WA metro area earn a median of $38,480 a year ($18.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 230 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,330 for the top 10%. That is 25% higher than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 2% lower than the Washington statewide median of $39,120. There are 2.5 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.60). The average (mean) salary is $38,920, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Bellingham, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,790 | $16.73 |
| 25th percentile | $36,820 | $17.70 |
| Median | $38,480 | $18.50 |
| 75th percentile | $39,490 | $18.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,330 | $20.83 |
| Average (mean) | $38,920 | $18.71 |
Half of cooks, fast food earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,206.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,603.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,480 |
| Weekly | $740 |
| Hourly | $18.50 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $38,480 salary, see how much house you can afford in Washington at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $44,030 | 5,190 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $38,580 | 2,520 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $37,910 | 300 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $37,850 | 170 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $37,030 | 330 |
| Yakima, WA | $36,710 | 290 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $36,600 | 330 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $36,550 | 140 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $36,260 | 140 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $34,270 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Bellingham, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $45,370 | $21.81 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,240 | $18.38 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $49,320 | $23.71 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,160 | $18.35 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $37,030 | $17.81 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $56,700 | $27.26 |
| Bartender | $56,110 | $26.98 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $58,520 | $28.14 |
| Dishwasher | $37,430 | $17.99 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $35,970 | $17.29 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,070 | $17.34 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,450 | $17.52 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $70,410 | $33.85 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Bellingham, WA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, fast food make in Bellingham, WA?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Bellingham, WA metro area is $38,480 a year, or $18.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,330 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Bellingham, WA?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Bellingham, WA metro area earn at least $43,330 a year. The top 25% earn $39,490 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Bellingham, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,790 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $36,820 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Bellingham, WA?
About 230 cooks, fast food are employed in the Bellingham, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.