Cooks, Fast Food Salary Trend (2011–2024)
Historical salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Median Salary in 2024
$30,160
↑ 64.8% since 2011
Median Salary Over Time
Cooks, Fast Food — Median Annual Salary
Employment Over Time
Cooks, Fast Food — Total Employment
Key Insights
📈Salaries grew 64.8% since 2011 ($18,300 → $30,160)
🏆Peak year: 2024 at $30,160
🦠COVID impact: Salary rose 3.7% from 2019 to 2020, likely reflecting workforce composition changes.
💰After inflation (~3%/yr), real growth is approximately +12%
Year-by-Year Salary Data
| Year | Median Salary | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $30,160 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | $29,260 | +5.9% |
| 2022 | $27,640 | +14.3% |
| 2021 | $24,180 | -0.8% |
| 2020 | $24,380 | +3.7% |
| 2019 | $23,510 | +5.3% |
| 2018 | $22,330 | +6.1% |
| 2017 | $21,040 | +5.9% |
| 2016 | $19,860 | +4.1% |
| 2015 | $19,080 | +2.9% |
| 2014 | $18,540 | +0.4% |
| 2013 | $18,470 | +0.3% |
| 2012 | $18,410 | +0.6% |
| 2011 | $18,300 | — |
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2011–2024. All figures are annual median wages in nominal dollars.