Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Portland, ME

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Portland-South Portland, ME

Median annual salary $35,300 +17% vs national
Median hourly $16.97
10th percentile $30,410
90th percentile $46,160
Employed locally 910
National median $30,160

Compare Cooks, Fast Food salary & buying power

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Cooks, Fast Food
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Portland, ME
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $30,410
    25th
    $33,360
    50th (median)
    $35,300
    75th
    $39,880
    90th
    $46,160

    Portland economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,602 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 40% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 60% 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
    Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area $39,120
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $38,630
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $37,910
    Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area $37,330
    Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area $36,900
    Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $36,780

    Related occupations in Portland, ME

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $35,150
    Waiters and Waitresses $45,010
    Cooks, Restaurant $46,960
    Food Preparation Workers $36,980
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $49,730
    Bartenders $51,180

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Portland, ME is $16.97, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.57 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Portland, ME is 17% 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 Portland?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $30,410 per year in Portland, ME. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $33,360.