Cooks, Fast Food pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,330 a year or less, while the top 10% make $48,140 or more. The middle half of cooks, fast food in Seattle earn between $38,280 and $44,390.
- $35K10th
- $38K25th
- $44KMedian
- $44K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,770 | $3,648 | $21.04 |
| Median | $44,030 | $3,669 | $21.17 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,280 | $3,190 | $18.40 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,390 | $3,699 | $21.34 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Fast Food pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Cooks, fast food in Seattle earn 6% more than the Washington average ($41,420) and 35% more than the U.S. average ($32,390). At the median the gap is +43% against the U.S. median of $30,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $43,770 | $44,030 | $35,330 | $48,140 | 5,190 |
| Washington | $41,420 | $39,120 | $35,330 | $44,860 | 9,020 |
| 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 Seattle
On the average salary of $43,770, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $37,349 a year, or $3,112 a month and $1,437 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for cooks, fast food? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $43,770 buys what about $39,385 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 17.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other Washington cities
Seattle ranks 1st of 9 Washington metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Seattle$43,770
- Bremerton$39,040
- Mount Vernon$39,020
- Bellingham$38,920
- Wenatchee$38,770
- Olympia$38,160
- Kennewick$38,130
- Longview$37,710
- Yakima$37,110
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 Seattle: questions
How much do cooks, fast food make an hour in Seattle?
$21.04 an hour on average, and $21.17 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,330 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,280, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, fast food take-home pay in Seattle?
About $37,349 a year ($3,112 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,770. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do cooks, fast food earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 35% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.6%.
- 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 no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.60, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.60).
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