Cooks, Fast Food salary in New York
Cooks, Fast Food in New York earn a median of $35,770 a year ($17.20 an hour), based on BLS data for 11,710 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $40,250 for the top 10%. That is 16% higher than the national median of $30,890. New York ranks 11th of 51 states for cooks, fast food pay. There are 1.2 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.29). The average (mean) salary is $36,800, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in New York
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,770 | $15.75 |
| 25th percentile | $33,340 | $16.03 |
| Median | $35,770 | $17.20 |
| 75th percentile | $38,130 | $18.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $40,250 | $19.35 |
| Average (mean) | $36,800 | $17.69 |
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 | $2,980.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,490.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,375.77 |
| Weekly | $687.88 |
| Hourly | $17.20 |
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 York
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kingston, NY | $37,150 | 40 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $35,780 | 10,410 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $35,490 | 40 |
| Syracuse, NY | $34,490 | 330 |
| Binghamton, NY | $34,290 | 70 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $33,690 | 600 |
| Rochester, NY | $33,380 | 920 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $33,100 | 150 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $32,240 | 560 |
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 York
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,610 | $17.12 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,550 | $17.09 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $45,880 | $22.06 |
| Cooks, All Other | $43,000 | $20.67 |
| Cooks, Private Household | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $35,250 | $16.95 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $47,020 | $22.61 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $47,190 | $22.69 |
| Bartender | $61,210 | $29.43 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,740 | $17.66 |
| Dishwasher | $35,450 | $17.04 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,490 | $17.54 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $39,370 | $18.93 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in New York
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 York?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in New York is $35,770 a year, or $17.20 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $40,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in New York?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in New York earn at least $40,250 a year. The top 25% earn $38,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in New York?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,770 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $33,340 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in New York?
About 11,710 cooks, fast food are employed in New York, not counting the self-employed.