Cooks, Fast Food: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Cooks, Fast Food fall under the Food Preparation and Serving category in the U.S. occupational classification. Cooks, Fast Food earn a median salary of $30,160 per year, ranking in the top 100% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -13.5% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do cooks, fast food earn?

The median annual wage for cooks, fast food is $30,160. That puts cooks, fast food at #809 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is cooks, fast food a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for cooks, fast food is -13.5%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 669K positions in 2024 to 579K in 2034, a net change of -90K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do cooks, fast food do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working cooks, fast food, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Order and take delivery of supplies.
2. 2.Cook the exact number of items ordered by each customer, working on several different orders simultaneously.
3. 3.Operate large-volume cooking equipment, such as grills, deep-fat fryers, or griddles.
4. 4.Pre-cook items, such as bacon, to prepare them for later use.
5. 5.Wash, cut, and prepare foods designated for cooking.
6. 6.Clean food preparation areas, cooking surfaces, and utensils.
7. 7.Clean, stock, and restock workstations and display cases.
8. 8.Maintain sanitation, health, and safety standards in work areas.

Top skills for cooks, fast food

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become cooks, fast food?

Many cooks, fast food enter the field with a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, though employers increasingly favor candidates with certifications or some postsecondary coursework. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Chefs and Head Cooks
  $60,990 median
• Cooks, Private Household
  $44,530 median
• First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
  $42,010 median
• Cooks, Restaurant
  $36,830 median
• Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
  $36,450 median
• Cooks, All Other
  $36,210 median

Common questions parents ask about cooks, fast food