Cooks, Fast Food pay range in Denver
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $49,570 or more. The middle half of cooks, fast food in Denver earn between $35,930 and $40,790.
- $34K10th
- $36K25th
- $39KMedian
- $41K75th
- $50K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,450 | $3,371 | $19.45 |
| Median | $38,530 | $3,211 | $18.52 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,930 | $2,994 | $17.27 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $40,790 | $3,399 | $19.61 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Fast Food pay in Denver vs. Colorado and the U.S.
Cooks, fast food in Denver earn 5% more than the Colorado average ($38,400) and 25% more than the U.S. average ($32,390). At the median the gap is +25% against the U.S. median of $30,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $40,450 | $38,530 | $34,040 | $49,570 | 4,220 |
| Colorado | $38,400 | $36,900 | $31,970 | $46,610 | 9,220 |
| United States | $32,390 | $30,890 | $22,580 | $42,910 | 641,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Fast Food salary after taxes in Denver
On the average salary of $40,450, a single filer in Denver takes home about $33,610 a year, or $2,801 a month and $1,293 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Is Denver a good place for cooks, fast food? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Denver area are 6% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.8), so the average $40,450 buys what about $38,239 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Denver ($62,320). A typical home costs $573,221, or 14.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other Colorado cities
Denver ranks 1st of 7 Colorado metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Denver$40,450
- Boulder$37,820
- Fort Collins$37,020
- Greeley$35,710
- Colorado Springs$35,660
- Pueblo$34,340
- Grand Junction$34,300
Highest-paying cities for cooks, fast food
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($46,590).
- San Francisco, CA$46,590
- San Jose, CA$46,530
- Vallejo, CA$44,360
- Napa, CA$43,910
- Seattle, WA$43,770
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Cooks, Fast Food salary in Denver: questions
How much do cooks, fast food make an hour in Denver?
$19.45 an hour on average, and $18.53 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in Denver?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,930, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, fast food take-home pay in Denver?
About $33,610 a year ($2,801 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,450. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Do cooks, fast food earn more in Denver than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% more than the U.S. average for this job ($32,390).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2011; area Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO (19740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.64, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.64).
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