Cooks, Fast Food salary in New Mexico
Cooks, Fast Food in New Mexico earn a median of $30,190 a year ($14.52 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,800 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,550 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $30,890. New Mexico ranks 27th of 51 states for cooks, fast food pay. There are 2.1 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.50). The average (mean) salary is $32,010, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in New Mexico
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,860 | $13.40 |
| 25th percentile | $28,740 | $13.82 |
| Median | $30,190 | $14.52 |
| 75th percentile | $35,370 | $17.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,550 | $18.05 |
| Average (mean) | $32,010 | $15.39 |
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 | $2,515.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,257.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,161.15 |
| Weekly | $580.58 |
| Hourly | $14.52 |
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 New Mexico
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe, NM | $38,000 | 140 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $30,720 | 570 |
| Farmington, NM | $28,730 | 210 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $28,390 | 180 |
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 New Mexico
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,020 | $16.84 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,370 | $16.04 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,470 | $17.54 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,150 | $17.86 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,700 | $13.80 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,920 | $17.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,310 | $18.90 |
| Bartender | $36,980 | $17.78 |
| Dishwasher | $30,520 | $14.67 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,360 | $14.12 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,480 | $13.69 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,250 | $29.93 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,740 | $17.19 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,250 | $17.43 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in New Mexico
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 New Mexico?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in New Mexico is $30,190 a year, or $14.52 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in New Mexico?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in New Mexico earn at least $37,550 a year. The top 25% earn $35,370 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in New Mexico?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,860 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $28,740 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in New Mexico?
About 1,800 cooks, fast food are employed in New Mexico, not counting the self-employed.