Cooks, Fast Food salary in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
Cooks, Fast Food in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median of $33,690 a year ($16.20 an hour), based on BLS data for 600 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $40,250 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 6% lower than the New York statewide median of $35,770. There are 1.1 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.27). The average (mean) salary is $35,330, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,490 | $15.62 |
| 25th percentile | $33,060 | $15.89 |
| Median | $33,690 | $16.20 |
| 75th percentile | $36,730 | $17.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $40,250 | $19.35 |
| Average (mean) | $35,330 | $16.99 |
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 | $2,807.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,403.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,295.77 |
| Weekly | $647.88 |
| Hourly | $16.20 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $33,690 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 |
| Rochester, NY | $33,380 | 920 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $33,100 | 150 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $32,240 | 560 |
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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,060 | $18.30 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,700 | $16.69 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,730 | $16.70 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $41,860 | $20.12 |
| Cooks, All Other | $38,580 | $18.55 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,560 | $16.61 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $46,580 | $22.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,720 | $21.50 |
| Bartender | $46,920 | $22.56 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,140 | $16.89 |
| Dishwasher | $35,080 | $16.86 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,190 | $16.44 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $33,860 | $16.28 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $74,290 | $35.72 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, 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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $33,690 a year, or $16.20 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $40,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn at least $40,250 a year. The top 25% earn $36,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,490 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $33,060 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
About 600 cooks, fast food are employed in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.