Cooks, Fast Food salary in Wheeling, WV-OH
Cooks, Fast Food in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area earn a median of $23,110 a year ($11.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 810 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $28,180 for the top 10%. That is 25% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is about the same as the West Virginia statewide median of $23,120. There are 14 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $24,520, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Wheeling, WV-OH
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,120 | $10.63 |
| 25th percentile | $22,800 | $10.96 |
| Median | $23,110 | $11.11 |
| 75th percentile | $26,970 | $12.97 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $28,180 | $13.55 |
| Average (mean) | $24,520 | $11.79 |
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 | $1,925.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $962.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $888.85 |
| Weekly | $444.42 |
| Hourly | $11.11 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $35,800 | 10,580 |
| Cleveland, OH | $29,120 | n/a |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $28,930 | 4,930 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $28,430 | 260 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $27,620 | 1,400 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $26,950 | 580 |
| Mansfield, OH | $26,360 | 180 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $26,300 | n/a |
| Akron, OH | $26,270 | 960 |
| Lima, OH | $26,210 | 140 |
| Springfield, OH | $25,980 | 180 |
| Columbus, OH | $25,290 | 2,210 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $23,710 | 450 |
| Charleston, WV | $23,180 | 2,230 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $22,780 | 1,120 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $22,610 | 3,070 |
| Toledo, OH | $22,560 | 850 |
| Beckley, WV | $22,370 | 1,170 |
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 West Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Wheeling, WV-OH
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,710 | $14.28 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $30,600 | $14.71 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,040 | $13.96 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,590 | $13.27 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,150 | $12.57 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,740 | $14.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $34,180 | $16.43 |
| Bartender | $28,530 | $13.71 |
| Dishwasher | $26,180 | $12.59 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,080 | $12.54 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,700 | $12.84 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $26,890 | $12.93 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $54,400 | $26.16 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Wheeling, WV-OH
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 Wheeling, WV-OH?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area is $23,110 a year, or $11.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $28,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Wheeling, WV-OH?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area earn at least $28,180 a year. The top 25% earn $26,970 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Wheeling, WV-OH?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,120 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $22,800 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Wheeling, WV-OH?
About 810 cooks, fast food are employed in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area, not counting the self-employed.