Cooks, Fast Food salary in Albuquerque, NM
Cooks, Fast Food in the Albuquerque, NM metro area earn a median of $30,720 a year ($14.77 an hour), based on BLS data for 570 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,510 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 2% higher than the New Mexico statewide median of $30,190. There are 1.4 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.34). The average (mean) salary is $32,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Albuquerque, NM
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,220 | $13.57 |
| 25th percentile | $30,190 | $14.52 |
| Median | $30,720 | $14.77 |
| 75th percentile | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,510 | $18.03 |
| Average (mean) | $32,830 | $15.79 |
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 | $2,560 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,280 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,181.54 |
| Weekly | $590.77 |
| Hourly | $14.77 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $30,720 salary, see how much house you can afford in New Mexico 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe, NM | $38,000 | 140 |
| Farmington, NM | $28,730 | 210 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $28,390 | 180 |
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 Mexico statewide figures.
Related jobs in Albuquerque, NM
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,190 | $16.92 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,380 | $16.53 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,740 | $18.14 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,860 | $18.68 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,140 | $14.01 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $38,050 | $18.29 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,270 | $18.40 |
| Bartender | $37,400 | $17.98 |
| Dishwasher | $31,540 | $15.16 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,360 | $14.60 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,480 | $13.69 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,040 | $28.87 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,160 | $16.90 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,890 | $17.74 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Albuquerque, NM
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 Albuquerque, NM?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Albuquerque, NM metro area is $30,720 a year, or $14.77 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Albuquerque, NM?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Albuquerque, NM metro area earn at least $37,510 a year. The top 25% earn $37,020 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Albuquerque, NM?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,220 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $30,190 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Albuquerque, NM?
About 570 cooks, fast food are employed in the Albuquerque, NM metro area, not counting the self-employed.