Skip to content
AffordMap
Salary comparison

Chefs and Head Cooks vs. Fast Food and Counter Workers: Who Earns More?

Chefs and Head Cooks out-earn Fast Food and Counter Workers by $31K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Chefs and Head Cooks land at $62,470 and Fast Food and Counter Workers at $31,200. The education gap is real: chefs and head cook programs typically require no formal educational credential, while fast food and counter worker programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Chefs and Head Cooks is Rhode Island ($79,930); for Fast Food and Counter Workers it's California ($42,280).

Chefs and Head Cooks
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Median salary
$62,470
$31,200
Hourly rate
$30.03/hr
$15/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$37,900
$22,840
Senior level (90th %)
$98,560
$42,650
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
200,040
3,854,050
Job growth (10-year)
7.1%
6.1%
Category
Food Service
Food Service
Top-paying state
Rhode Island
California

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Chefs and Head Cooks median pay.

State
Chefs and Head Cooks
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Hawaii
$77,360
$35,250
District of Columbia
$76,420
$37,430
Washington
$76,010
$37,710
New Jersey
$74,280
$34,150
New York
$70,670
$35,250
Massachusetts
$69,540
$35,850
Vermont
$65,440
$36,030
Colorado
$65,400
$36,270
California
$64,500
$42,280
Connecticut
$64,310
$35,380
Oregon
$63,600
$35,050
Maryland
$61,590
$33,660
Arizona
$59,890
$34,230
Illinois
$58,830
$33,910
Maine
$57,010
$34,710

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Chefs and Head Cooks or Fast Food and Counter Workers?

Chefs and Head Cooks earn more nationally. The median is $62,470 for Chefs and Head Cooks versus $31,200 for Fast Food and Counter Workers, a difference of $31K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Chefs and Head Cooks or Fast Food and Counter Workers?

Chefs and Head Cooks has the better 10-year outlook at 7.1% projected growth, compared to 6.1% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Chefs and Head Cooks or Fast Food and Counter Workers?

Chefs and Head Cooks typically requires no formal educational credential. Fast Food and Counter Workers requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Chefs and Head Cooks get paid the most?

Rhode Island is the top-paying state for Chefs and Head Cooks at $79,930/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Chefs and Head Cooks vs. Fast Food and Counter Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Hawaii, Chefs and Head Cooks earn $77,360 vs. $35,250 for Fast Food and Counter Workers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Chefs and Head Cooks salary breakdownView →Full Fast Food and Counter Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Chefs and Head Cooks by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Fast Food and Counter Workers by take-home payExplore →How to become a chefs and head cooksGuide →How to become a fast food and counter workersGuide →