Cooks, Fast Food salary in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
Cooks, Fast Food in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area earn a median of $32,240 a year ($15.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 560 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,390 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 10% lower than the New York statewide median of $35,770. There are 1.2 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.30). The average (mean) salary is $33,690, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,240 | $15.50 |
| 25th percentile | $32,240 | $15.50 |
| Median | $32,240 | $15.50 |
| 75th percentile | $32,240 | $15.50 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,390 | $17.50 |
| Average (mean) | $33,690 | $16.20 |
Half of cooks, fast food earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,686.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,343.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,240 |
| Weekly | $620 |
| Hourly | $15.50 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $32,240 salary, see how much house you can afford in New York at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kingston, NY | $37,150 | 40 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $35,780 | 10,410 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $35,490 | 40 |
| Syracuse, NY | $34,490 | 330 |
| Binghamton, NY | $34,290 | 70 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $33,690 | 600 |
| Rochester, NY | $33,380 | 920 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $33,100 | 150 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the New York statewide figures.
Related jobs in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $39,610 | $19.04 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,260 | $17.43 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,520 | $16.59 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $43,550 | $20.94 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,060 | $16.38 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $48,980 | $23.55 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,330 | $21.79 |
| Bartender | $47,370 | $22.78 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,460 | $17.53 |
| Dishwasher | $34,580 | $16.63 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,560 | $16.61 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,550 | $17.09 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $84,430 | $40.59 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, fast food make in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area is $32,240 a year, or $15.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area earn at least $36,390 a year. The top 25% earn $32,240 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,240 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $32,240 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY?
About 560 cooks, fast food are employed in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.