Cooks, Fast Food salary in Montana
Cooks, Fast Food in Montana earn a median of $26,770 a year ($12.87 an hour), based on BLS data for 820 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,100 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $30,890. Montana ranks 47th of 51 states for cooks, fast food pay. There are 1.6 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.39). The average (mean) salary is $30,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Montana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,090 | $10.62 |
| 25th percentile | $23,920 | $11.50 |
| Median | $26,770 | $12.87 |
| 75th percentile | $33,960 | $16.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,100 | $22.65 |
| Average (mean) | $30,260 | $14.55 |
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 | $2,230.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,115.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,029.62 |
| Weekly | $514.81 |
| Hourly | $12.87 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $26,770 salary, see how much house you can afford in Montana at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in cities in Montana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Missoula, MT | $39,080 | 130 |
| Bozeman, MT | $28,840 | 120 |
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 |
Related jobs in Montana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,060 | $18.30 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,860 | $16.28 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,150 | $17.86 |
| Cooks, All Other | $42,640 | $20.50 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $33,240 | $15.98 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,090 | $13.98 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $23,370 | $11.23 |
| Bartender | $26,010 | $12.51 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,010 | $21.16 |
| Dishwasher | $30,130 | $14.49 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,910 | $13.90 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,510 | $13.23 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $32,090 | $15.43 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $57,470 | $27.63 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Montana
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 Montana?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in Montana is $26,770 a year, or $12.87 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Montana?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in Montana earn at least $47,100 a year. The top 25% earn $33,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Montana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,090 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $23,920 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Montana?
About 820 cooks, fast food are employed in Montana, not counting the self-employed.