Cooks, Fast Food salary in Santa Fe, NM
Cooks, Fast Food in the Santa Fe, NM metro area earn a median of $38,000 a year ($18.27 an hour), based on BLS data for 140 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,180 for the top 10%. That is 23% higher than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 26% higher than the New Mexico statewide median of $30,190. There are 2.3 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.55). The average (mean) salary is $37,550, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Santa Fe, NM
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,370 | $14.60 |
| 25th percentile | $31,420 | $15.11 |
| Median | $38,000 | $18.27 |
| 75th percentile | $44,290 | $21.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,180 | $21.72 |
| Average (mean) | $37,550 | $18.06 |
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 | $3,166.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,583.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,461.54 |
| Weekly | $730.77 |
| Hourly | $18.27 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the New Mexico statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Fe, NM
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,250 | $17.91 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,120 | $17.36 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $39,370 | $18.93 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,820 | $18.18 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $30,810 | $14.81 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $46,640 | $22.42 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $47,290 | $22.74 |
| Bartender | $44,250 | $21.27 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $32,260 | $15.51 |
| Dishwasher | $33,750 | $16.23 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,360 | $14.60 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $72,020 | $34.62 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Santa Fe, NM
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 Santa Fe, NM?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Santa Fe, NM metro area is $38,000 a year, or $18.27 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Santa Fe, NM?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Santa Fe, NM metro area earn at least $45,180 a year. The top 25% earn $44,290 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Santa Fe, NM?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,370 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $31,420 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Santa Fe, NM?
About 140 cooks, fast food are employed in the Santa Fe, NM metro area, not counting the self-employed.