Cooks, Fast Food pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,000 or more. The middle half of cooks, fast food in Washington earn between $33,520 and $40,310.
- $31K10th
- $34K25th
- $36KMedian
- $40K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,450 | $3,121 | $18.00 |
| Median | $35,800 | $2,983 | $17.21 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,520 | $2,793 | $16.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $40,310 | $3,359 | $19.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Fast Food pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Cooks, fast food in Washington earn 14% less than the Washington, D.C. average ($43,710) and 16% more than the U.S. average ($32,390). At the median the gap is +16% against the U.S. median of $30,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $37,450 | $35,800 | $31,200 | $47,000 | 10,580 |
| Washington, D.C. | $43,710 | $44,670 | $36,480 | $51,260 | 2,760 |
| 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 Washington
On the average salary of $37,450, a single filer in Washington takes home about $31,190 a year, or $2,599 a month and $1,200 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $31,308 | $2,609 |
| Working in DC | $31,190 | $2,599 |
| Working in VA | $30,932 | $2,578 |
| Working in MD | $30,704 | $2,559 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for cooks, fast food? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $37,450 buys what about $34,394 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 15.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$28,440
- Baltimore, MD$34,070
- Winchester, VA$29,140
- Lexington Park, MD$33,330
- Gettysburg, PA$29,380
- Chambersburg, PA$28,130
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 Washington: questions
How much do cooks, fast food make an hour in Washington?
$18.01 an hour on average, and $17.21 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,520, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, fast food take-home pay in Washington?
About $31,190 a year ($2,599 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,450.
Do cooks, fast food earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.82, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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