Cooks, Fast Food salary in New Jersey
Cooks, Fast Food in New Jersey earn a median of $32,220 a year ($15.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,440 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $41,860 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $30,890. New Jersey ranks 20th of 51 states for cooks, fast food pay. There are 0.80 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.19). The average (mean) salary is $35,240, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| 25th percentile | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| Median | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| 75th percentile | $36,930 | $17.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,860 | $20.12 |
| Average (mean) | $35,240 | $16.94 |
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 | $2,685 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,342.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,239.23 |
| Weekly | $619.62 |
| Hourly | $15.49 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $32,220 salary, see how much house you can afford in New Jersey at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in cities in New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $36,350 | n/a |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $35,780 | 10,410 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $32,220 | 4,010 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $28,760 | 530 |
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 New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,520 | $21.40 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $40,720 | $19.58 |
| Cooks, All Other | $46,080 | $22.15 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,150 | $16.42 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $44,960 | $21.62 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,420 | $23.28 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,170 | $16.43 |
| Bartender | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,390 | $17.50 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,050 | $16.37 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $74,280 | $35.71 |
| Dishwasher | $35,900 | $17.26 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in New Jersey
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in New Jersey is $32,220 a year, or $15.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $41,860 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in New Jersey earn at least $41,860 a year. The top 25% earn $36,930 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,220 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $32,220 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in New Jersey?
About 3,440 cooks, fast food are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.