Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Buffalo, NY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY

Median annual salary $32,820 +8.8% vs national
Median hourly $15.78
10th percentile $31,200
90th percentile $36,130
Employed locally 830
National median $30,160

Compare Cooks, Fast Food salary & buying power

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Cooks, Fast Food
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Buffalo, NY
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,200
    25th
    $31,200
    50th (median)
    $32,820
    75th
    $34,460
    90th
    $36,130

    Buffalo economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $70,572 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 47% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 53% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Syracuse, NY $34,200
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $34,180
    Kingston, NY $34,030
    Rochester, NY $33,860
    Elmira, NY $32,200

    Related occupations in Buffalo, NY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $34,240
    Waiters and Waitresses $46,820
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $42,290
    Cooks, Restaurant $37,700
    Bartenders $49,950
    Food Preparation Workers $34,270

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in Buffalo?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Buffalo, NY is $15.78, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $19.35 or more per hour.

    Is Buffalo above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Buffalo, NY is 8.8% above the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Buffalo?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $31,200 per year in Buffalo, NY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $31,200.