Cooks, Fast Food salary in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO
Cooks, Fast Food in the Fort Collins-Loveland, CO metro area earn a median of $35,230 a year ($16.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 960 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,050 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 5% lower than the Colorado statewide median of $36,900. There are 5.7 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $37,020, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,660 | $15.70 |
| 25th percentile | $34,790 | $16.73 |
| Median | $35,230 | $16.94 |
| 75th percentile | $36,880 | $17.73 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,050 | $22.62 |
| Average (mean) | $37,020 | $17.80 |
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 | $2,935.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,467.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,355 |
| Weekly | $677.50 |
| Hourly | $16.94 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $35,230 salary, see how much house you can afford in Colorado 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $38,530 | 4,220 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $36,560 | 1,340 |
| Boulder, CO | $36,250 | 580 |
| Greeley, CO | $35,840 | 360 |
| Pueblo, CO | $34,180 | 340 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $33,980 | 310 |
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 Colorado statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,370 | $18.45 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,510 | $17.55 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $39,770 | $19.12 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $32,630 | $15.69 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,850 | $16.75 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $47,360 | $22.77 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $47,150 | $22.67 |
| Bartender | $46,290 | $22.26 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,890 | $16.78 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,970 | $17.78 |
| Dishwasher | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $37,080 | $17.83 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,090 | $29.37 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,050 | $16.85 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO
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 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Fort Collins-Loveland, CO metro area is $35,230 a year, or $16.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,050 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Fort Collins-Loveland, CO metro area earn at least $47,050 a year. The top 25% earn $36,880 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,660 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $34,790 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO?
About 960 cooks, fast food are employed in the Fort Collins-Loveland, CO metro area, not counting the self-employed.