Cooks, Fast Food pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,400 a year or less, while the top 10% make $48,850 or more. The middle half of cooks, fast food in Boston earn between $37,540 and $44,290.
- $36K10th
- $38K25th
- $42KMedian
- $44K75th
- $49K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,740 | $3,478 | $20.07 |
| Median | $41,600 | $3,467 | $20.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,540 | $3,128 | $18.05 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,290 | $3,691 | $21.29 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Fast Food pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Cooks, fast food in Boston earn 4% more than the Massachusetts average ($40,080) and 29% more than the U.S. average ($32,390). At the median the gap is +35% against the U.S. median of $30,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $41,740 | $41,600 | $36,400 | $48,850 | n/a |
| Massachusetts | $40,080 | $37,870 | $35,590 | $48,140 | n/a |
| 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 Boston
On the average salary of $41,740, a single filer in Boston takes home about $33,951 a year, or $2,829 a month and $1,306 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $35,718 | $2,977 |
| Working in MA | $33,951 | $2,829 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for cooks, fast food? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $41,740 buys what about $38,553 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 17.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 1st of 4 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boston$41,740
- Barnstable$40,400
- Worcester$38,120
- Springfield$35,890
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 Boston: questions
How much do cooks, fast food make an hour in Boston?
$20.07 an hour on average, and $20.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,400 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,540, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, fast food take-home pay in Boston?
About $33,951 a year ($2,829 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,740. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do cooks, fast food earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
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