Cooks, Fast Food salary in Harrisonburg, VA
Cooks, Fast Food in the Harrisonburg, VA metro area earn a median of $28,680 a year ($13.79 an hour), based on BLS data for 190 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,040 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 4% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $29,950. There are 2.9 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.70). The average (mean) salary is $30,630, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Harrisonburg, VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,510 | $13.23 |
| 25th percentile | $28,060 | $13.49 |
| Median | $28,680 | $13.79 |
| 75th percentile | $32,780 | $15.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,040 | $16.85 |
| Average (mean) | $30,630 | $14.72 |
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 | $2,390 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,195 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,103.08 |
| Weekly | $551.54 |
| Hourly | $13.79 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $28,680 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $35,800 | 10,580 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $33,970 | n/a |
| Richmond, VA | $29,570 | 1,180 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $29,290 | 310 |
| Roanoke, VA | $29,160 | n/a |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $28,430 | 260 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $28,380 | 5,030 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $26,930 | 720 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Harrisonburg, VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,920 | $17.27 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,900 | $18.22 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,240 | $14.06 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $44,760 | $21.52 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,560 | $21.42 |
| Bartender | $44,940 | $21.61 |
| Dishwasher | $31,440 | $15.12 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,390 | $13.65 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,690 | $13.79 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,710 | $15.25 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,270 | $30.42 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,230 | $17.42 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Harrisonburg, VA
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 Harrisonburg, VA?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Harrisonburg, VA metro area is $28,680 a year, or $13.79 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Harrisonburg, VA?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Harrisonburg, VA metro area earn at least $35,040 a year. The top 25% earn $32,780 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Harrisonburg, VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,510 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $28,060 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Harrisonburg, VA?
About 190 cooks, fast food are employed in the Harrisonburg, VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.