308 metro areas

Cook, Fast Food Salary by City (2026)

Cooks earn the most in San Francisco, CA, an average of $46,590 a year, against $32,390 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in El Centro, CA ($42,400 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.

US average (mean): $32,390BLS OEWS, May 2025
Highest-paying city: $46,590San Francisco, CA
Best after cost of living: $42,400El Centro, CA
Metro areas: 308With their own estimate

Top cities

Highest-paying cities for cooks

Mean annual wage

Top 10 metro areas

San Francisco, CA$46,590
San Jose, CA$46,530
Vallejo, CA$44,370
Napa, CA$43,910
Seattle, WA$43,760
Santa Rosa, CA$43,620
Santa Maria, CA$42,120
Santa Cruz, CA$42,040
Salinas, CA$41,930
Portland, OR-WA$41,910

Top 10 metro areas by mean wage for cooks
Item	Value
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$46,590
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$46,530
Vallejo, CA	$44,370
Napa, CA	$43,910
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$43,760
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$43,620
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$42,120
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	$42,040
Salinas, CA	$41,930
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$41,910

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

At national-average prices

Mean wage ÷ BEA price level

El Centro, CA$40,350 nominal$42,400
San Jose, CA$46,530 nominal$42,140
Kingston, NY$41,540 nominal$41,250
Barnstable Town, MA$40,390 nominal$41,070
Vallejo, CA$44,370 nominal$40,900
Merced, CA$39,870 nominal$40,570
Santa Rosa, CA$43,620 nominal$40,470
San Francisco, CA$46,590 nominal$40,300
Modesto, CA$41,890 nominal$40,240
Bakersfield, CA$40,330 nominal$39,980

Top 10 metro areas by price-adjusted mean wage for cooks
Item	Value
El Centro, CA	$42,400
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$42,140
Kingston, NY	$41,250
Barnstable Town, MA	$41,070
Vallejo, CA	$40,900
Merced, CA	$40,570
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$40,470
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$40,300
Modesto, CA	$40,240
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$39,980

Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024

Every city

Cook, Fast Food salary in every metro area

Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.

Cook, Fast Food pay in every metro area with a BLS estimate
#	Metro area	Mean	Entry (Level I)	Experienced (Level IV)	At US prices
1	San Francisco, CA	$46,590	$40,730	$49,480	$40,300
2	San Jose, CA	$46,530	$39,960	$49,770	$42,140
3	Vallejo, CA	$44,370	$39,480	$46,760	$40,900
4	Napa, CA	$43,910	$39,270	$46,200	$39,010
5	Seattle, WA	$43,760	$36,750	$47,240	$39,380
6	Santa Rosa, CA	$43,620	$38,730	$46,030	$40,470
7	Santa Maria, CA	$42,120	$38,130	$44,080	$38,710
8	Santa Cruz, CA	$42,040	$37,630	$44,200	$38,250
9	Salinas, CA	$41,930	$35,980	$44,870	$38,450
10	Portland, OR-WA	$41,910	$36,730	$44,450	$39,750
11	Modesto, CA	$41,890	$37,360	$44,140	$40,240
12	Boston, MA-NH	$41,750	$36,590	$44,260	$38,560
13	San Diego, CA	$41,700	$36,650	$44,200	$37,270
14	Kingston, NY	$41,540	$33,360	$45,570	$41,250
15	Riverside, CA	$41,430	$36,300	$43,950	$38,920
16	Yuba City, CA	$41,410	$36,960	$43,600	$39,730
17	Oxnard, CA	$41,330	$36,170	$43,870	$37,390
18	San Luis Obispo, CA	$41,230	$36,420	$43,600	$37,970
19	Sacramento, CA	$40,910	$35,110	$43,760	$38,350
20	Stockton, CA	$40,790	$36,550	$42,870	$38,810
21	Denver, CO	$40,460	$34,740	$43,260	$38,250
22	Barnstable Town, MA	$40,390	$36,860	$42,140	$41,070
23	El Centro, CA	$40,350	$36,960	$42,020	$42,400
24	Bakersfield, CA	$40,330	$35,510	$42,700	$39,980
25	Chico, CA	$40,290	$36,630	$42,120	$39,810
26	Los Angeles, CA	$40,210	$36,460	$42,060	$35,410
27	Hanford, CA	$40,160	$35,150	$42,620	$39,520
28	Redding, CA	$40,000	$36,610	$41,680	$39,730
29	Merced, CA	$39,870	$36,380	$41,600	$40,570
30	Visalia, CA	$39,830	$36,380	$41,540	$39,900
31	Fresno, CA	$39,640	$34,610	$42,140	$38,800
32	Manchester, NH	$39,190	$34,610	$41,450	$37,090
33	Bremerton, WA	$39,040	$36,380	$40,350	$36,970
34	Mount Vernon, WA	$39,020	$36,130	$40,460	$38,090
35	Austin, TX	$38,960	$29,470	$43,620	$39,730
36	Bellingham, WA	$38,920	$35,880	$40,410	$37,660
37	Wenatchee, WA	$38,770	$35,070	$40,600	$37,330
38	Olympia, WA	$38,170	$35,570	$39,440	$36,820
39	Kennewick, WA	$38,130	$35,820	$39,250	$38,100
40	Worcester, MA	$38,130	$34,360	$39,980	$37,190
41	Burlington, VT	$38,000	$35,420	$39,270	$37,640
42	Portland, ME	$37,860	$33,780	$39,850	$37,170
43	Boulder, CO	$37,840	$33,550	$39,940	$35,970
44	Bend, OR	$37,730	$33,110	$40,020	$36,420
45	Longview, WA	$37,710	$35,550	$38,770	$38,660
46	Bridgeport, CT	$37,650	$34,860	$39,020	$35,230
47	Santa Fe, NM	$37,560	$30,800	$40,890	$38,030
48	Urban Honolulu, HI	$37,540	$29,120	$41,700	$33,830
49	Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV	$37,460	$31,890	$40,210	$34,400
50	Yakima, WA	$37,110	$34,960	$38,170	$38,840
51	Fort Collins, CO	$37,020	$33,650	$38,670	$36,610
52	Atlantic City, NJ	$36,980	$32,360	$39,250	$37,410
53	New York, NY-NJ	$36,750	$32,700	$38,770	$32,650
54	New Haven, CT	$36,520	$34,010	$37,770	$34,930
55	Missoula, MT	$36,360	$24,860	$42,020	$37,700
56	Carson City, NV	$36,250	$28,390	$40,120	$36,940
57	Glens Falls, NY	$36,170	$32,680	$37,900	$38,130
58	Eugene, OR	$36,130	$30,870	$38,730	$35,570
59	Hartford, CT	$36,090	$34,030	$37,110	$35,130
60	Chicago, IL-IN	$36,000	$31,660	$38,130	$34,750
61	Corvallis, OR	$36,000	$31,160	$38,380	$34,610
62	Lewiston, ME	$35,980	$32,050	$37,940	$37,980
63	Springfield, MA	$35,900	$33,780	$36,940	$37,370
64	Binghamton, NY	$35,880	$32,240	$37,670	$38,640
65	Provo, UT	$35,880	$28,660	$39,420	$36,530
66	Salem, OR	$35,820	$31,370	$38,000	$34,560
67	Greeley, CO	$35,710	$32,050	$37,500	$35,650
68	Colorado Springs, CO	$35,650	$31,490	$37,710	$35,400
69	Salt Lake City, UT	$35,570	$29,540	$38,520	$35,260
70	Bangor, ME	$35,440	$32,070	$37,110	$36,720
71	Buffalo, NY	$35,340	$32,760	$36,590	$36,870
72	Syracuse, NY	$35,340	$32,970	$36,500	$36,910
73	Fairbanks, AK	$35,260	$29,720	$37,980	$34,160
74	Waterbury, CT	$35,240	$34,010	$35,840	$35,320
75	Minneapolis, MN-WI	$35,130	$28,200	$38,540	$33,510
76	Rochester, NY	$34,920	$32,280	$36,230	$35,990
77	Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$34,630	$27,290	$38,230	$33,770
78	Utica, NY	$34,590	$32,240	$35,730	$37,320
79	Las Vegas, NV	$34,550	$27,060	$38,230	$34,480
80	Pueblo, CO	$34,340	$30,930	$36,030	$37,420
81	Providence, RI-MA	$34,320	$31,300	$35,800	$33,720
82	Grand Junction, CO	$34,300	$31,260	$35,800	$35,930
83	Anchorage, AK	$34,280	$29,930	$36,400	$32,520
84	Naples, FL	$34,280	$29,970	$36,380	$33,220
85	Baltimore, MD	$34,070	$31,350	$35,420	$32,610
86	Bozeman, MT	$33,970	$26,000	$37,880	$33,140
87	Flagstaff, AZ	$33,950	$31,320	$35,210	$33,840
88	Phoenix, AZ	$33,920	$31,140	$35,300	$32,830
89	Salisbury, MD	$33,900	$31,200	$35,240	$35,450
90	Miami, FL	$33,800	$28,540	$36,380	$29,610
91	Champaign, IL	$33,780	$31,200	$35,070	$36,440
92	Dover, DE	$33,760	$31,200	$35,030	$34,620
93	Albany, NY	$33,700	$32,240	$34,400	$33,850
94	Rockford, IL	$33,700	$31,430	$34,820	$36,570
95	St. George, UT	$33,700	$29,620	$35,710	$34,630
96	Charlottesville, VA	$33,530	$28,850	$35,860	$33,820
97	North Port, FL	$33,430	$28,560	$35,820	$32,640
98	Lexington Park, MD	$33,320	$31,200	$34,380	$33,070
99	Peoria, IL	$33,090	$31,200	$34,030	$36,270
100	Nashville, TN	$32,970	$24,170	$37,290	$34,220
101	Albuquerque, NM	$32,840	$29,180	$34,630	$34,370
102	Bloomington, IL	$32,780	$31,200	$33,550	$35,040
103	Richmond, VA	$32,740	$27,500	$35,320	$33,460
104	Lewiston, ID-WA	$32,510	$28,870	$34,300	$35,660
105	Rochester, MN	$32,510	$27,190	$35,130	$35,800
106	Omaha, NE-IA	$32,490	$27,540	$34,920	$35,350
107	St. Louis, MO-IL	$32,470	$29,810	$33,780	$34,150
108	Tampa, FL	$32,470	$27,770	$34,780	$32,180
109	Kankakee, IL	$32,300	$31,200	$32,840	$33,510
110	Ogden, UT	$32,280	$25,020	$35,860	$32,170
111	Cape Coral, FL	$32,140	$28,290	$34,030	$31,400
112	St. Cloud, MN	$32,050	$27,440	$34,320	$36,570
113	Allentown, PA-NJ	$31,950	$24,940	$35,420	$31,960
114	Midland, TX	$31,950	$25,060	$35,340	$33,360
115	Dallas, TX	$31,820	$24,000	$35,690	$30,870
116	Ann Arbor, MI	$31,780	$26,960	$34,170	$31,500
117	Detroit, MI	$31,780	$28,500	$33,400	$31,690
118	Indianapolis, IN	$31,760	$26,400	$34,400	$33,190
119	Crestview, FL	$31,740	$28,180	$33,490	$32,710
120	Orlando, FL	$31,740	$28,230	$33,490	$31,300
121	Logan, UT-ID	$31,700	$26,620	$34,200	$33,050
122	Tucson, AZ	$31,700	$30,580	$32,240	$32,720
123	Fargo, ND-MN	$31,550	$26,040	$34,280	$34,720
124	Pensacola, FL	$31,550	$27,390	$33,610	$32,290
125	Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$31,510	$28,290	$33,110	$34,770
126	Reno, NV	$31,470	$27,310	$33,510	$31,150
127	Minot, ND	$31,430	$25,500	$34,340	$36,110
128	Charleston, SC	$31,410	$23,300	$35,400	$31,110
129	Deltona, FL	$31,410	$27,480	$33,360	$31,610
130	Duluth, MN-WI	$31,410	$26,960	$33,590	$35,380
131	Grand Island, NE	$31,320	$28,160	$32,880	$36,140
132	Kansas City, MO-KS	$31,220	$29,200	$32,240	$33,740
133	Port St. Lucie, FL	$31,220	$27,370	$33,110	$31,150
134	Boise City, ID	$31,180	$23,770	$34,840	$31,690
135	Lincoln, NE	$31,140	$28,180	$32,570	$34,000
136	Lawrence, KS	$30,950	$24,480	$34,150	$34,300
137	Sebastian, FL	$30,720	$27,330	$32,410	$31,250
138	Grand Forks, ND-MN	$30,640	$24,670	$33,590	$35,360
139	Harrisonburg, VA	$30,620	$27,810	$32,010	$32,270
140	Las Cruces, NM	$30,620	$27,600	$32,120	$33,940
141	Roanoke, VA	$30,600	$27,140	$32,300	$32,690
142	San Antonio, TX	$30,490	$24,730	$33,320	$32,190
143	Columbia, MO	$30,430	$28,600	$31,320	$34,020
144	Harrisburg, PA	$30,350	$23,880	$33,530	$30,770
145	Corpus Christi, TX	$30,310	$22,880	$33,970	$32,710
146	Rapid City, SD	$30,310	$26,060	$32,390	$34,000
147	Kalamazoo, MI	$30,280	$26,480	$32,160	$31,930
148	Lancaster, PA	$30,260	$24,170	$33,260	$30,800
149	State College, PA	$30,260	$24,150	$33,280	$31,270
150	St. Joseph, MO-KS	$30,240	$28,600	$31,030	$35,010
151	Traverse City, MI	$30,180	$26,460	$32,010	$32,320
152	Waco, TX	$30,140	$23,050	$33,650	$32,570
153	Lynchburg, VA	$30,060	$27,100	$31,510	$33,640
154	Racine, WI	$30,040	$26,020	$31,990	$31,300
155	Springfield, MO	$30,040	$28,620	$30,720	$33,910
156	Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	$30,010	$28,600	$30,700	$34,860
157	Grand Rapids, MI	$30,010	$26,640	$31,660	$31,410
158	Lafayette, IN	$30,010	$25,250	$32,360	$32,120
159	Appleton, WI	$29,950	$25,690	$32,070	$32,410
160	Ocala, FL	$29,930	$27,040	$31,350	$31,430
161	Tulsa, OK	$29,890	$25,170	$32,220	$33,500
162	Huntsville, AL	$29,870	$24,560	$32,490	$32,090
163	Dayton, OH	$29,850	$24,710	$32,390	$32,200
164	Hilton Head Island, SC	$29,850	$22,610	$33,430	$30,450
165	Wausau, WI	$29,790	$26,500	$31,390	$32,150
166	Eau Claire, WI	$29,760	$26,330	$31,450	$32,070
167	Jefferson City, MO	$29,760	$28,600	$30,330	$33,830
168	South Bend, IN-MI	$29,740	$26,890	$31,140	$32,030
169	Bloomington, IN	$29,660	$25,770	$31,570	$31,190
170	Joplin, MO-KS	$29,640	$28,580	$30,160	$34,580
171	Lansing, MI	$29,640	$26,500	$31,180	$31,200
172	Jacksonville, FL	$29,620	$27,440	$30,700	$29,770
173	York, PA	$29,620	$24,210	$32,280	$30,850
174	Cheyenne, WY	$29,580	$22,190	$33,220	$30,660
175	Kenosha, WI	$29,540	$25,000	$31,760	$29,210
176	Madison, WI	$29,490	$23,210	$32,590	$30,310
177	Virginia Beach, VA-NC	$29,490	$27,250	$30,600	$30,110
178	Flint, MI	$29,450	$26,080	$31,120	$31,660
179	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$29,430	$24,290	$31,950	$30,860
180	La Crosse, WI-MN	$29,430	$25,170	$31,530	$32,070
181	Cleveland, OH	$29,390	$24,880	$31,620	$31,290
182	Farmington, NM	$29,370	$27,100	$30,490	$33,490
183	Gettysburg, PA	$29,370	$23,360	$32,340	$30,790
184	Scranton, PA	$29,370	$23,590	$32,240	$31,390
185	Fond du Lac, WI	$29,330	$23,840	$32,030	$32,000
186	Green Bay, WI	$29,330	$24,150	$31,870	$31,510
187	Killeen, TX	$29,330	$22,610	$32,610	$32,180
188	Des Moines, IA	$29,290	$18,490	$34,610	$31,940
189	Durham, NC	$29,290	$24,270	$31,760	$30,020
190	Janesville, WI	$29,240	$23,860	$31,910	$31,200
191	Jackson, MI	$29,180	$26,730	$30,410	$31,790
192	Winchester, VA-WV	$29,140	$24,900	$31,220	$30,210
193	Niles, MI	$29,080	$26,000	$30,600	$31,480
194	Knoxville, TN	$28,970	$22,730	$32,050	$31,300
195	Midland, MI	$28,970	$25,960	$30,470	$31,520
196	Greenville, SC	$28,930	$22,880	$31,910	$31,020
197	Milwaukee, WI	$28,930	$24,110	$31,300	$29,840
198	Dubuque, IA	$28,870	$18,350	$34,050	$33,060
199	Oklahoma City, OK	$28,850	$25,080	$30,720	$31,910
200	Odessa, TX	$28,830	$21,990	$32,200	$30,700
201	Charlotte, NC-SC	$28,720	$23,170	$31,470	$29,500
202	Davenport, IA-IL	$28,700	$18,970	$33,510	$32,220
203	Topeka, KS	$28,680	$24,270	$30,870	$32,290
204	Cedar Rapids, IA	$28,640	$18,370	$33,700	$32,190
205	Decatur, AL	$28,600	$24,400	$30,660	$32,790
206	Sherman, TX	$28,600	$21,610	$32,030	$30,500
207	Birmingham, AL	$28,560	$24,250	$30,680	$31,160
208	Muskegon, MI	$28,520	$25,960	$29,790	$30,830
209	Atlanta, GA	$28,500	$21,800	$31,800	$28,480
210	Hagerstown, MD-WV	$28,430	$24,190	$30,530	$30,190
211	Monroe, MI	$28,430	$26,060	$29,600	$30,410
212	Pocatello, ID	$28,390	$22,320	$31,390	$31,930
213	Columbus, OH	$28,270	$23,130	$30,780	$29,610
214	Fayetteville, AR	$28,270	$25,270	$29,740	$30,950
215	Kingsport, TN-VA	$28,270	$20,920	$31,890	$32,700
216	Longview, TX	$28,270	$23,170	$30,780	$31,590
217	Little Rock, AR	$28,250	$24,900	$29,890	$31,610
218	Augusta, GA-SC	$28,200	$21,280	$31,620	$30,680
219	Gainesville, GA	$28,160	$21,550	$31,430	$29,100
220	Terre Haute, IN	$28,160	$24,270	$30,080	$32,070
221	Amarillo, TX	$28,120	$21,650	$31,320	$30,630
222	Chambersburg, PA	$28,120	$23,250	$30,530	$29,710
223	Iowa City, IA	$28,120	$17,560	$33,340	$30,730
224	Raleigh, NC	$28,080	$23,500	$30,330	$28,610
225	Asheville, NC	$28,020	$22,670	$30,640	$29,030
226	Idaho Falls, ID	$27,910	$20,130	$31,740	$29,560
227	Spartanburg, SC	$27,810	$21,820	$30,740	$30,540
228	Tuscaloosa, AL	$27,750	$23,360	$29,890	$31,630
229	Wichita, KS	$27,750	$22,530	$30,330	$31,200
230	Pittsburgh, PA	$27,680	$21,610	$30,680	$29,240
231	Mobile, AL	$27,560	$23,000	$29,810	$31,280
232	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$27,540	$21,780	$30,390	$29,880
233	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$27,540	$17,080	$32,680	$31,860
234	Daphne, AL	$27,520	$22,840	$29,830	$29,060
235	Altoona, PA	$27,500	$21,420	$30,510	$30,720
236	Abilene, TX	$27,460	$21,300	$30,470	$30,390
237	Jonesboro, AR	$27,330	$24,190	$28,870	$31,820
238	McAllen, TX	$27,330	$20,260	$30,830	$31,820
239	Winston, NC	$27,190	$22,320	$29,600	$29,540
240	Beaumont, TX	$27,120	$20,740	$30,280	$30,120
241	Brunswick, GA	$27,100	$20,490	$30,350	$30,900
242	Auburn, AL	$27,020	$22,530	$29,200	$30,730
243	Greensboro, NC	$27,020	$22,240	$29,370	$29,100
244	Montgomery, AL	$27,000	$22,590	$29,160	$30,110
245	Lubbock, TX	$26,980	$21,510	$29,660	$29,550
246	Lawton, OK	$26,940	$21,490	$29,620	$31,350
247	Warner Robins, GA	$26,940	$20,280	$30,220	$28,720
248	Morristown, TN	$26,870	$19,430	$30,530	$31,110
249	Chattanooga, TN-GA	$26,850	$19,780	$30,330	$29,360
250	Myrtle Beach, SC	$26,850	$20,720	$29,890	$28,670
251	Fort Smith, AR-OK	$26,830	$22,940	$28,750	$31,240
252	Hickory, NC	$26,810	$21,650	$29,350	$30,300
253	Canton, OH	$26,790	$22,530	$28,870	$29,960
254	Burlington, NC	$26,770	$21,820	$29,200	$28,720
255	Clarksville, TN-KY	$26,710	$20,840	$29,600	$29,370
256	Springfield, OH	$26,640	$22,630	$28,620	$29,440
257	Akron, OH	$26,600	$23,250	$28,250	$28,490
258	Lima, OH	$26,600	$22,670	$28,540	$29,660
259	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$26,600	$22,010	$28,850	$28,580
260	Columbia, SC	$26,500	$21,820	$28,810	$28,290
261	Wilmington, NC	$26,480	$22,090	$28,620	$27,460
262	Columbus, GA-AL	$26,460	$21,090	$29,120	$29,630
263	Florence, AL	$26,420	$22,400	$28,390	$31,150
264	Johnson City, TN	$26,420	$20,630	$29,290	$30,050
265	Houston, TX	$26,350	$21,240	$28,890	$26,720
266	Brownsville, TX	$26,270	$20,220	$29,240	$30,560
267	Lexington, KY	$26,190	$22,090	$28,200	$28,190
268	El Paso, TX	$26,170	$18,870	$29,760	$29,110
269	Jackson, TN	$26,170	$20,180	$29,120	$30,600
270	Anniston, AL	$26,150	$22,110	$28,140	$30,430
271	Pinehurst, NC	$26,150	$21,010	$28,680	$29,600
272	San Angelo, TX	$26,060	$20,160	$28,970	$28,190
273	Albany, GA	$25,960	$19,640	$29,060	$29,610
274	Arecibo, PR	$25,960	$21,920	$27,960	N/A
275	Dothan, AL	$25,940	$21,860	$27,930	$30,940
276	Sumter, SC	$25,830	$20,680	$28,390	$29,350
277	Mansfield, OH	$25,810	$22,360	$27,520	$29,040
278	Gadsden, AL	$25,690	$21,340	$27,830	$29,990
279	Greenville, NC	$25,630	$21,690	$27,560	$28,990
280	Macon, GA	$25,580	$20,490	$28,080	$28,890
281	Enid, OK	$25,540	$21,720	$27,410	$30,310
282	Aguadilla, PR	$25,480	$21,840	$27,270	N/A
283	San Juan, PR	$25,480	$21,900	$27,250	N/A
284	Texarkana, TX-AR	$25,310	$21,650	$27,120	$30,130
285	Weirton, WV-OH	$25,310	$22,460	$26,730	$28,430
286	Bowling Green, KY	$25,170	$21,220	$27,120	$27,910
287	Fayetteville, NC	$25,040	$20,800	$27,140	$27,220
288	Elizabethtown, KY	$25,020	$21,130	$26,940	$27,620
289	Toledo, OH	$25,020	$22,260	$26,370	$27,360
290	Rocky Mount, NC	$25,000	$21,470	$26,750	$28,410
291	Valdosta, GA	$24,940	$19,840	$27,460	$28,250
292	Florence, SC	$24,900	$20,610	$27,000	$28,700
293	Owensboro, KY	$24,560	$20,860	$26,370	$27,720
294	Shreveport, LA	$24,560	$21,260	$26,190	$28,970
295	Charleston, WV	$24,520	$21,900	$25,810	$27,640
296	Wheeling, WV-OH	$24,520	$22,090	$25,730	$27,760
297	Gulfport, MS	$24,440	$20,720	$26,270	$27,150
298	Jacksonville, NC	$24,440	$21,010	$26,120	$26,540
299	Alexandria, LA	$24,290	$20,880	$25,980	$28,350
300	Goldsboro, NC	$24,210	$20,030	$26,270	$27,370
301	Parkersburg, WV	$24,170	$21,340	$25,560	$27,760
302	Huntington, WV-KY-OH	$24,150	$21,110	$25,650	$27,310
303	Guayama, PR	$24,040	$21,840	$25,130	N/A
304	Mayaguez, PR	$23,840	$21,840	$24,810	N/A
305	Hattiesburg, MS	$23,710	$20,050	$25,520	$27,060
306	Beckley, WV	$23,690	$20,860	$25,080	$26,810
307	Ponce, PR	$23,610	$21,840	$24,500	N/A
308	Jackson, MS	$22,840	$19,510	$24,480	$25,650

More on cooks

Cook, Fast Food career profile Cook, Fast Food salary by state Cost of living calculator

Method

About these numbers

Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.

Questions

Cook, Fast Food salary by city: FAQ

Which city pays cooks the most?

San Francisco, CA, where the average (mean) wage is $46,590 a year, followed by San Jose, CA ($46,530), Vallejo, CA ($44,370), Napa, CA ($43,910). The national mean is $32,390 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Where do cooks earn the most after cost of living?

Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in El Centro, CA ($42,400 at national prices, $40,350 nominal), San Jose, CA ($42,140 at national prices, $46,530 nominal), Kingston, NY ($41,250 at national prices, $41,540 nominal).

How much do cooks make in the biggest cities?

New York, NY-NJ: $36,750; Los Angeles, CA: $40,210; Chicago, IL-IN: $36,000; Dallas, TX: $31,820; Houston, TX: $26,350 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).

Where do cooks earn the least?

Of the 308 metro areas with their own estimate, Jackson, MS has the lowest mean wage, $22,840. At local prices that is worth $25,650.