National Salary Info » Fast Food Cooks

Highest Paying Industries for Fast Food Cooks

The top 58 highest paying industries for fast food cooks (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment in those industries are also shown. As shown in the table, with an average annual salary of $30,940, other general merchandise stores is the highest paying industry for fast food cooks. It is followed by general merchandise stores industry (average annual salary $28,210). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2015 [1]. For more information about salaries of fast food cooks in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

Table 1. 58 Highest Paying Industries for Fast Food Cooks

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Other General Merchandise Stores	$30,940	$18,220	130
2	General Merchandise Stores	$28,210	$17,440	150
3	Casino Hotels	$24,450	$16,290	290
4	Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods Merchant Wholesalers	$23,340	$19,330	n/a
5	Accommodation	$23,280	$16,920	1,530
6	Traveler Accommodation	$23,270	$16,920	1,510
7	State government, including schools and hospitals	$22,250	$17,250	n/a
8	Educational Services - State government owned	$22,250	$17,250	n/a
9	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - State government owned	$22,200	$17,230	n/a
10	Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	$22,160	$17,230	110
11	Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods	$22,070	$17,190	60
12	Wholesale Trade	$22,070	$17,190	60
13	Gambling Industries	$21,630	$16,780	260
14	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$21,000	$18,260	n/a
15	Spectator Sports	$20,540	$16,640	190
16	Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers	$20,120	$17,250	230
17	Public sector -- Federal, state, and local government, including government owned schools and hospit	$20,050	$16,590	690
18	Child Day Care Services	$19,940	$16,200	n/a
19	Social Assistance	$19,890	$16,190	n/a
20	Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries	$19,870	$16,860	260
21	Health Care and Social Assistance	$19,860	$16,200	n/a
22	Administrative and Support Services	$19,690	$16,600	n/a
23	Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	$19,690	$16,600	n/a
24	Local government, including schools and hospitals	$19,530	$16,540	n/a
25	Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation	$19,450	$16,720	3,790
26	Other Amusement and Recreation Industries	$19,430	$16,790	2,440
27	Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries	$19,430	$16,710	3,530
28	Grocery Stores	$19,390	$16,470	2,670
29	Educational Services	$19,380	$16,320	310
30	Employment Services	$19,370	$16,470	320
31	Food and Beverage Stores	$19,300	$16,490	4,340
32	Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)	$19,250	$16,800	1,410
33	Specialty Food Stores	$19,250	$16,530	1,640
34	Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)	$19,190	$16,520	320
35	Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation)	$19,190	$16,520	320
36	Federal, State, and Local Government	$19,190	$16,520	320
37	Amusement Parks and Arcades	$19,120	$16,510	830
38	Management of Companies and Enterprises	$19,070	$16,800	100
39	Temporary Help Services	$18,980	$16,170	190
40	Elementary and Secondary Schools - Local government owned	$18,920	$16,230	120
41	Educational Services - Local government owned	$18,920	$16,230	120
42	Food Manufacturing	$18,920	$16,230	60
43	Manufacturing	$18,900	$16,230	60
44	Civic and Social Organizations	$18,830	$16,910	960
45	Full-Service Restaurants	$18,830	$16,300	46,770
46	Elementary and Secondary Schools	$18,830	$16,400	140
47	Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations	$18,810	$16,880	980
48	Retail Trade	$18,790	$16,200	9,420
49	Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government)	$18,780	$16,870	1,000
50	Other Food Manufacturing	$18,760	$16,210	n/a
51	Special Food Services	$18,710	$16,390	2,320
52	Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, and Book Stores	$18,570	$16,450	n/a
53	Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events	$18,560	$17,070	60
54	Restaurants and Other Eating Places	$18,520	$16,290	497,860
55	Food Services and Drinking Places	$18,520	$16,290	501,580
56	Accommodation and Food Services	$18,520	$16,290	503,110
57	Educational Services - Privately owned	$18,330	$16,020	n/a
58	Gasoline Stations	$18,210	$16,030	4,690