Cooks, Fast Food salary in West Virginia
Cooks, Fast Food in West Virginia earn a median of $23,120 a year ($11.12 an hour), based on BLS data for 16,490 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $28,300 for the top 10%. That is 25% lower than the national median of $30,890. West Virginia ranks 50th of 51 states for cooks, fast food pay. There are 24 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 5.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $24,720, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in West Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,600 | $10.39 |
| 25th percentile | $22,290 | $10.72 |
| Median | $23,120 | $11.12 |
| 75th percentile | $26,680 | $12.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $28,300 | $13.61 |
| Average (mean) | $24,720 | $11.89 |
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 | $1,926.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $963.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $889.23 |
| Weekly | $444.62 |
| Hourly | $11.12 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in cities in West Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $35,800 | 10,580 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $28,430 | 260 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $27,620 | 1,400 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $23,710 | 450 |
| Charleston, WV | $23,180 | 2,230 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $23,110 | 810 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $22,780 | 1,120 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $22,610 | 3,070 |
| Beckley, WV | $22,370 | 1,170 |
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 West Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,590 | $14.23 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $29,740 | $14.30 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $28,360 | $13.63 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,440 | $13.19 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,380 | $17.01 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $33,070 | $15.90 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,070 | $12.54 |
| Bartender | $29,630 | $14.24 |
| Dishwasher | $26,460 | $12.72 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $24,420 | $11.74 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,150 | $13.05 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,170 | $14.51 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,100 | $29.38 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $21,640 | $10.40 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in West Virginia
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 West Virginia?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in West Virginia is $23,120 a year, or $11.12 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $28,300 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in West Virginia?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in West Virginia earn at least $28,300 a year. The top 25% earn $26,680 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in West Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,600 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $22,290 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in West Virginia?
About 16,490 cooks, fast food are employed in West Virginia, not counting the self-employed.