Cooks, Fast Food
SOC code 35-2011 · O*NET-SOC 35-2011.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Food service and hospitality
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects numerous job openings for this occupation
Cooks, Fast Food pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$30,890
a year
Hourly
$14.85
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$32,390
$15.57 per hour
Middle 50%
$27,260 – $37,260
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$22,580 – $42,910
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
641,070
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $22,580
- $10.86/hr
- 25th percentile
- $27,260
- $13.11/hr
- Median percentile
- $30,890
- $14.85/hr
- 75th percentile
- $37,260
- $17.92/hr
- 90th percentile
- $42,910
- $20.63/hr
What do cooks, fast food do?
Prepare and cook food in a fast food restaurant with a limited menu. Duties of these cooks are limited to preparation of a few basic items and normally involve operating large-volume single-purpose cooking equipment.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Read food order slips or receive verbal instructions as to food required by patron, and prepare and cook food according to instructions.
- Maintain sanitation, health, and safety standards in work areas.
- Clean food preparation areas, cooking surfaces, and utensils.
- Operate large-volume cooking equipment, such as grills, deep-fat fryers, or griddles.
- Take food and drink orders and receive payment from customers.
- Cook the exact number of items ordered by each customer, working on several different orders simultaneously.
- Prepare specialty foods, such as pizzas, fish and chips, sandwiches, or tacos, following specific methods that usually require short preparation time.
- Verify that prepared food meets requirements for quality and quantity.
How to qualify for this work
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a cooks, fast food earn?
The national median is $30,890 a year. The full range runs from $22,580 at the 10th percentile to $42,910 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a cooks, fast food without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening3.0/5
- Speaking2.9/5
- Reading Comprehension2.8/5
- Critical Thinking2.6/5
- Monitoring2.6/5
Knowledge areas
- Food Production3.8/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.7/5
- English Language3.3/5
- Production and Processing2.9/5
- Administration and Management2.5/5
Transferable strengths: Service Orientation, Coordination, Social Perceptiveness, Time Management.