Cooks, Fast Food salary in Salem, OR
Cooks, Fast Food in the Salem, OR metro area earn a median of $33,870 a year ($16.29 an hour), based on BLS data for 420 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,730 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 11% lower than the Oregon statewide median of $37,880. There are 2.2 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.54). The average (mean) salary is $35,810, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Salem, OR
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,580 | $14.70 |
| 25th percentile | $32,490 | $15.62 |
| Median | $33,870 | $16.29 |
| 75th percentile | $37,320 | $17.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,730 | $20.54 |
| Average (mean) | $35,810 | $17.22 |
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 | $2,822.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,411.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,302.69 |
| Weekly | $651.35 |
| Hourly | $16.29 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $38,580 | 2,520 |
| Bend, OR | $35,600 | 270 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | $35,550 | 420 |
| Corvallis, OR | $34,990 | 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 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Oregon statewide figures.
Related jobs in Salem, OR
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $39,170 | $18.83 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $37,300 | $17.93 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,690 | $21.49 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,910 | $16.78 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,520 | $16.60 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $48,720 | $23.42 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| Bartender | $38,410 | $18.46 |
| Dishwasher | $35,070 | $16.86 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,720 | $16.69 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,780 | $17.68 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,250 | $16.95 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,750 | $30.65 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $49,900 | $23.99 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Salem, OR
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 Salem, OR?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Salem, OR metro area is $33,870 a year, or $16.29 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Salem, OR?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Salem, OR metro area earn at least $42,730 a year. The top 25% earn $37,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Salem, OR?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,580 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $32,490 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Salem, OR?
About 420 cooks, fast food are employed in the Salem, OR metro area, not counting the self-employed.