Cooks, Fast Food salary in Charleston, WV
Cooks, Fast Food in the Charleston, WV metro area earn a median of $23,180 a year ($11.14 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,230 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $27,820 for the top 10%. That is 25% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is about the same as the West Virginia statewide median of $23,120. There are 22 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 5.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $24,520, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Charleston, WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,170 | $10.66 |
| 25th percentile | $22,380 | $10.76 |
| Median | $23,180 | $11.14 |
| 75th percentile | $26,850 | $12.91 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $27,820 | $13.38 |
| Average (mean) | $24,520 | $11.79 |
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 | $1,931.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $965.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $891.54 |
| Weekly | $445.77 |
| Hourly | $11.14 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $35,800 | 10,580 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $28,430 | 260 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $27,620 | 1,400 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $23,710 | 450 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $23,110 | 810 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $22,780 | 1,120 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $22,610 | 3,070 |
| Beckley, WV | $22,370 | 1,170 |
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 West Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charleston, WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,450 | $14.16 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $30,050 | $14.45 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,970 | $13.45 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,590 | $13.26 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,900 | $17.74 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $30,450 | $14.64 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,380 | $10.76 |
| Bartender | $30,900 | $14.86 |
| Dishwasher | $26,440 | $12.71 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $25,470 | $12.25 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,360 | $13.15 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,330 | $14.58 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Charleston, WV
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 Charleston, WV?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Charleston, WV metro area is $23,180 a year, or $11.14 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $27,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Charleston, WV?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Charleston, WV metro area earn at least $27,820 a year. The top 25% earn $26,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Charleston, WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,170 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $22,380 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Charleston, WV?
About 2,230 cooks, fast food are employed in the Charleston, WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.