Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Fayetteville, NC

In Fayetteville, NC, cooks working in fast food typically earn a median annual salary of $25,490, with an hourly wage of approximately $12.26. This figure falls below the national median for this occupation, which stands at $30,160, highlighting a regional disparity in earnings. When compared to the local area's median household income of $58,909, fast food cooks in Fayetteville earn substantially less than the average household in the region. Despite the city’s relatively low unemployment rate of 4.50%, the earning potential for these workers remains significantly below that of other occupations within the locality.

Entry-level cooks in Fayetteville generally earn closer to the lower end of the salary spectrum, with earnings around $20,970 at the 10th percentile and $22,170 at the 25th percentile. As experience accumulates, salaries tend to increase, with those in the 75th percentile earning up to $26,930 annually, and more seasoned professionals at the 90th percentile reaching approximately $27,940 per year. The disparity between entry-level and experienced workers is driven by factors such as tenure, skill proficiency, and performance within the role. Additionally, opportunities for advancement into supervisory or specialized culinary positions can further influence earnings potential, although many remain in similar wage brackets due to limited upward mobility in this segment of the industry.