Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Rochester, NY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Rochester, NY

Median annual salary $33,860 +12.3% vs national
Median hourly $16.28
10th percentile $31,200
90th percentile $35,360
Employed locally 1,810
National median $30,160

Compare Cooks, Fast Food salary & buying power

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Cooks, Fast Food
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Rochester, NY
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,200
    25th
    $31,390
    50th (median)
    $33,860
    75th
    $34,130
    90th
    $35,360

    Rochester economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $74,438 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 45% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 55% 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
    Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $32,820
    Elmira, NY $32,200

    Related occupations in Rochester, NY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $33,130
    Waiters and Waitresses $45,310
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $42,540
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,920
    Food Preparation Workers $34,260
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $33,660

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Rochester, NY is $16.28, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $18.13 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Rochester, NY is 12.3% 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 Rochester?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $31,200 per year in Rochester, NY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $31,390.