Cooks, Fast Food salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Cooks, Fast Food in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median of $44,030 a year ($21.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,190 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,140 for the top 10%. That is 43% higher than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 13% higher than the Washington statewide median of $39,120. There are 2.5 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.60). The average (mean) salary is $43,770, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,330 | $16.99 |
| 25th percentile | $38,280 | $18.40 |
| Median | $44,030 | $21.17 |
| 75th percentile | $44,390 | $21.34 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,140 | $23.14 |
| Average (mean) | $43,770 | $21.04 |
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 | $3,669.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,834.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,693.46 |
| Weekly | $846.73 |
| Hourly | $21.17 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $44,030 salary, see how much house you can afford in Washington 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $38,580 | 2,520 |
| Bellingham, WA | $38,480 | 230 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $37,910 | 300 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $37,850 | 170 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $37,030 | 330 |
| Yakima, WA | $36,710 | 290 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $36,600 | 330 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $36,550 | 140 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $36,260 | 140 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $34,270 | 50 |
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 Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $47,730 | $22.95 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $43,830 | $21.07 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $51,530 | $24.77 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $50,870 | $24.46 |
| Cooks, All Other | $53,910 | $25.92 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $39,150 | $18.82 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $57,280 | $27.54 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $61,610 | $29.62 |
| Bartender | $58,180 | $27.97 |
| Dishwasher | $42,750 | $20.55 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $38,430 | $18.48 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $40,640 | $19.54 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $80,330 | $38.62 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $45,120 | $21.69 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $44,030 a year, or $21.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn at least $48,140 a year. The top 25% earn $44,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,330 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $38,280 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
About 5,190 cooks, fast food are employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.