Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Salinas, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Salinas, CA

Median annual salary $37,960 +25.9% vs national
Median hourly $18.25
10th percentile $35,710
90th percentile $45,730
Employed locally 1,040
National median $30,160

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Cooks, Fast Food
in
Salinas, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,710
    25th
    $36,710
    50th (median)
    $37,960
    75th
    $44,090
    90th
    $45,730

    Salinas economic context

    Unemployment rate 7.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $94,486 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
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210
    Vallejo, CA $39,110
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $37,730

    Related occupations in Salinas, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $37,440
    Waiters and Waitresses $35,390
    Cooks, Restaurant $44,490
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $47,460
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $35,360
    Dishwashers $36,910

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Salinas, CA is $18.25, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.60 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Salinas, CA is 25.9% 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 Salinas?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $35,710 per year in Salinas, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,710.