Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012

35-2011 Cooks, Fast Food

Prepare and cook food in a fast food restaurant with a limited menu. Duties of these cooks are limited to preparation of a few basic items and normally involve operating large-volume single-purpose cooking equipment.

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
504,740 1.5 % $9.03 $18,780 0.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $7.82 $8.29 $8.85 $9.41 $11.20
Annual Wage (2) $16,260 $17,240 $18,410 $19,580 $23,290

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Restaurants and Other Eating Places 478,360 5.35 $9.00 $18,730
Gasoline Stations 5,690 0.68 $8.49 $17,650
Grocery Stores 2,990 0.12 $10.03 $20,870
Special Food Services 2,750 0.47 $10.53 $21,910
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries 2,630 0.24 $9.40 $19,540

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Restaurants and Other Eating Places 478,360 5.35 $9.00 $18,730
Specialty Food Stores 2,150 0.99 $9.21 $19,170
Amusement Parks and Arcades 1,380 0.80 $9.94 $20,670
Gasoline Stations 5,690 0.68 $8.49 $17,650
Special Food Services 2,750 0.47 $10.53 $21,910

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Gambling Industries 200 0.16 $11.31 $23,530
Local Government (OES Designation) 700 0.01 $11.16 $23,210
Traveler Accommodation 970 0.06 $10.93 $22,730
Special Food Services 2,750 0.47 $10.53 $21,910
Grocery Stores 2,990 0.12 $10.03 $20,870

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 115,740 8.09 2.09 $9.27 $19,290
Texas 38,110 3.60 0.93 $8.44 $17,560
Illinois 23,440 4.15 1.07 $9.28 $19,300
Florida 22,500 3.09 0.80 $9.36 $19,470
Georgia 20,510 5.38 1.39 $8.82 $18,340




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Arkansas 10,830 9.38 2.42 $8.25 $17,150
Mississippi 8,890 8.23 2.12 $8.23 $17,120
California 115,740 8.09 2.09 $9.27 $19,290
Idaho 4,570 7.64 1.97 $8.45 $17,570
New Mexico 5,600 7.23 1.87 $8.46 $17,600




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Connecticut 4,760 2.94 0.76 $12.00 $24,950
Vermont 360 1.22 0.31 $10.91 $22,680
Alaska 710 2.21 0.57 $10.22 $21,250
Washington 5,260 1.90 0.49 $10.21 $21,230
Massachusetts 9,750 3.04 0.79 $10.16 $21,130





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 30,770 7.95 2.05 $9.08 $18,880
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 13,230 3.63 0.94 $9.25 $19,230
Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division 13,010 9.22 2.38 $9.17 $19,080
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 12,310 10.61 2.74 $8.90 $18,520
Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ 10,900 6.30 1.63 $9.26 $19,260
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 10,390 4.59 1.19 $9.04 $18,800
Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville, CA 9,470 11.59 2.99 $8.86 $18,430
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA 8,060 6.39 1.65 $9.59 $19,950
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 7,410 3.54 0.91 $8.38 $17,420
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 6,610 1.28 0.33 $10.33 $21,480