Skip to content
AffordMap
Salary comparison

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

Fast Food and Counter Workers out-earn Cooks, Fast Food by $310 a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Cooks, Fast Food land at $30,890 and Fast Food and Counter Workers at $31,200. The education gap is real: cooks, fast food programs typically require no formal educational credential, while fast food and counter worker programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Cooks, Fast Food is Hawaii ($48,120); for Fast Food and Counter Workers it's California ($42,280).

Cooks, Fast Food
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Median salary
$30,890
$31,200
Hourly rate
$14.85/hr
$15/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$22,580
$22,840
Senior level (90th %)
$42,910
$42,650
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
641,070
3,854,050
Job growth (10-year)
-13.5%
6.1%
Category
Food Service
Food Service
Top-paying state
Hawaii
California

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Cooks, Fast Food median pay.

State
Cooks, Fast Food
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Hawaii
$48,120
$35,250
District of Columbia
$44,670
$37,430
California
$42,050
$42,280
Washington
$39,120
$37,710
Vermont
$38,230
$36,030
Oregon
$37,880
$35,050
Massachusetts
$37,870
$35,850
Colorado
$36,900
$36,270
Maine
$36,350
$34,710
New York
$35,770
$35,250
Connecticut
$34,980
$35,380
Illinois
$34,960
$33,910
Maryland
$33,320
$33,660
Arizona
$32,660
$34,230
New Jersey
$32,220
$34,150

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

Common questions

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

Fast Food and Counter Workers earn more nationally. The median is $30,890 for Cooks, Fast Food versus $31,200 for Fast Food and Counter Workers, a difference of $310. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

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

Fast Food and Counter Workers has the better 10-year outlook at 6.1% projected growth, compared to -13.5% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

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

Cooks, Fast Food 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 Cooks, Fast Food get paid the most?

Hawaii is the top-paying state for Cooks, Fast Food at $48,120/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

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

The gap varies significantly by state. In Hawaii, Cooks, Fast Food earn $48,120 vs. $35,250 for Fast Food and Counter Workers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Cooks, Fast Food salary breakdownView →Full Fast Food and Counter Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Cooks, Fast Food by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Fast Food and Counter Workers by take-home payExplore →How to become a cooks, fast foodGuide →How to become a fast food and counter workersGuide →