Cooks, Fast Food salary in Boulder, CO
Cooks, Fast Food in the Boulder, CO metro area earn a median of $36,250 a year ($17.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 580 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,380 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 2% lower than the Colorado statewide median of $36,900. There are 3.0 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $37,820, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Boulder, CO
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,380 | $16.05 |
| 25th percentile | $33,380 | $16.05 |
| Median | $36,250 | $17.43 |
| 75th percentile | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,380 | $21.82 |
| Average (mean) | $37,820 | $18.19 |
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 | $3,020.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,510.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,394.23 |
| Weekly | $697.12 |
| Hourly | $17.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $38,530 | 4,220 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $36,560 | 1,340 |
| Greeley, CO | $35,840 | 360 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $35,230 | 960 |
| Pueblo, CO | $34,180 | 340 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $33,980 | 310 |
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 Colorado statewide figures.
Related jobs in Boulder, CO
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $42,220 | $20.30 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $48,020 | $23.09 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,690 | $19.08 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $36,190 | $17.40 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $49,870 | $23.97 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $52,020 | $25.01 |
| Bartender | $42,520 | $20.44 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $37,460 | $18.01 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $38,930 | $18.72 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $38,220 | $18.38 |
| Dishwasher | $37,750 | $18.15 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,740 | $29.68 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $39,270 | $18.88 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Boulder, CO
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 Boulder, CO?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Boulder, CO metro area is $36,250 a year, or $17.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Boulder, CO?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Boulder, CO metro area earn at least $45,380 a year. The top 25% earn $39,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Boulder, CO?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,380 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $33,380 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Boulder, CO?
About 580 cooks, fast food are employed in the Boulder, CO metro area, not counting the self-employed.