Cooks, Fast Food salary in Washington
Cooks, Fast Food in Washington earn a median of $39,120 a year ($18.81 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,020 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,860 for the top 10%. That is 27% higher than the national median of $30,890. Washington ranks 4th of 51 states for cooks, fast food pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 2.5 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.62). The average (mean) salary is $41,420, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,330 | $16.99 |
| 25th percentile | $36,390 | $17.50 |
| Median | $39,120 | $18.81 |
| 75th percentile | $44,050 | $21.18 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,860 | $21.57 |
| Average (mean) | $41,420 | $19.92 |
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 | $3,260 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,630 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,504.62 |
| Weekly | $752.31 |
| Hourly | $18.81 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $44,030 | 5,190 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $38,580 | 2,520 |
| Bellingham, WA | $38,480 | 230 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $37,910 | 300 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $37,850 | 170 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $37,030 | 330 |
| Yakima, WA | $36,710 | 290 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $36,600 | 330 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $36,550 | 140 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $36,260 | 140 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $34,270 | 50 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $46,800 | $22.50 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $40,910 | $19.67 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $49,670 | $23.88 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,760 | $20.56 |
| Cooks, All Other | $52,510 | $25.25 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $37,710 | $18.13 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $56,130 | $26.98 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $59,400 | $28.56 |
| Bartender | $55,830 | $26.84 |
| Dishwasher | $40,080 | $19.27 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $37,270 | $17.92 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $38,870 | $18.69 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $41,420 | $19.91 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $76,010 | $36.54 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in Washington is $39,120 a year, or $18.81 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,860 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Washington?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in Washington earn at least $44,860 a year. The top 25% earn $44,050 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,330 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $36,390 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Washington?
About 9,020 cooks, fast food are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.