Cooks, Fast Food salary in Rhode Island
Cooks, Fast Food in Rhode Island earn a median of $35,230 a year ($16.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,210 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,470 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $30,890. Rhode Island ranks 12th of 51 states for cooks, fast food pay. There are 2.4 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.59). The average (mean) salary is $33,960, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Rhode Island
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $35,230 | $16.94 |
| 75th percentile | $35,690 | $17.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,470 | $18.49 |
| Average (mean) | $33,960 | $16.33 |
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 Rhode Island at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in cities in Rhode Island
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $35,260 | 1,390 |
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 Rhode Island
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,510 | $17.55 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,470 | $17.06 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,570 | $22.39 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $46,250 | $22.24 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,490 | $15.14 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,420 | $17.03 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,400 | $23.27 |
| Bartender | $36,410 | $17.51 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dishwasher | $33,960 | $16.33 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,860 | $16.76 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $79,930 | $38.43 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,400 | $15.10 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in Rhode Island is $35,230 a year, or $16.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,470 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Rhode Island?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in Rhode Island earn at least $38,470 a year. The top 25% earn $35,690 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Rhode Island?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $31,200 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Rhode Island?
About 1,210 cooks, fast food are employed in Rhode Island, not counting the self-employed.