Cooks, Fast Food pay range in Providence
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $38,470 or more. The middle half of cooks, fast food in Providence earn between $31,200 and $35,750.
- $31K10th
- $31K25th
- $35KMedian
- $36K75th
- $38K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,320 | $2,860 | $16.50 |
| Median | $35,260 | $2,938 | $16.95 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,750 | $2,979 | $17.19 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Fast Food pay in Providence vs. Rhode Island and the U.S.
Cooks, fast food in Providence earn about the same as the Rhode Island average ($33,960) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($32,390). At the median the gap is +14% against the U.S. median of $30,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $34,320 | $35,260 | $31,200 | $38,470 | 1,390 |
| Rhode Island | $33,960 | $35,230 | $31,200 | $38,470 | 1,210 |
| 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 Providence
On the average salary of $34,320, a single filer in Providence takes home about $29,086 a year, or $2,424 a month and $1,119 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
The Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in RI | $29,086 | $2,424 |
| Working in MA | $28,360 | $2,363 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Rhode Island's Temporary Disability Insurance payroll contribution is not included.
Is Providence a good place for cooks, fast food? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Providence area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.8), so the average $34,320 buys what about $33,722 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Providence ($53,680). A typical home costs $524,867, or 15.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in nearby metro areas
- Worcester, MA$38,120
- Boston, MA$41,740
- Barnstable, MA$40,400
- Hartford, CT$36,090
- Springfield, MA$35,890
- New Haven, CT$36,530
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 Providence: questions
How much do cooks, fast food make an hour in Providence?
$16.50 an hour on average, and $16.95 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in Providence?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, fast food take-home pay in Providence?
About $29,086 a year ($2,424 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,320. Rhode Island's Temporary Disability Insurance payroll contribution is not included.
Do cooks, fast food earn more in Providence than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA (39300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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). Rhode Island's Temporary Disability Insurance payroll contribution is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.47, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.47).
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