Cooks, Fast Food salary in Delaware
Cooks, Fast Food in Delaware earn a median of $31,840 a year ($15.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 850 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,870 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $30,890. Delaware ranks 21st of 51 states for cooks, fast food pay. There are 1.8 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.43). The average (mean) salary is $35,780, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Delaware
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| 75th percentile | $38,950 | $18.73 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,870 | $23.50 |
| Average (mean) | $35,780 | $17.20 |
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 | $2,653.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,326.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,224.62 |
| Weekly | $612.31 |
| Hourly | $15.31 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in cities in Delaware
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $32,220 | 4,010 |
| Dover, DE | $31,200 | 140 |
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 |
Related jobs in Delaware
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,080 | $21.19 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,930 | $17.28 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,500 | $18.51 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,300 | $15.05 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,880 | $17.73 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,120 | $23.13 |
| Bartender | $36,840 | $17.71 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,880 | $15.33 |
| Dishwasher | $35,780 | $17.20 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,430 | $15.11 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,440 | $29.54 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $33,840 | $16.27 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Delaware
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 Delaware?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in Delaware is $31,840 a year, or $15.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,870 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Delaware?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in Delaware earn at least $48,870 a year. The top 25% earn $38,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Delaware?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $31,200 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Delaware?
About 850 cooks, fast food are employed in Delaware, not counting the self-employed.