Cooks, Fast Food pay range in Lincoln
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,670 or more. The middle half of cooks, fast food in Lincoln earn between $28,260 and $32,820.
- $28K10th
- $28K25th
- $29KMedian
- $33K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,130 | $2,594 | $14.97 |
| Median | $29,430 | $2,452 | $14.15 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,260 | $2,355 | $13.59 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $32,820 | $2,735 | $15.78 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Fast Food pay in Lincoln vs. Nebraska and the U.S.
Cooks, fast food in Lincoln earn about the same as the Nebraska average ($31,910) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($32,390). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $30,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $31,130 | $29,430 | $28,080 | $36,670 | 760 |
| Nebraska | $31,910 | $30,430 | $28,080 | $36,910 | 2,900 |
| United States | $32,390 | $30,890 | $22,580 | $42,910 | 641,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Fast Food salary after taxes in Lincoln
On the average salary of $31,130, a single filer in Lincoln takes home about $26,630 a year, or $2,219 a month and $1,024 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Lincoln a good place for cooks, fast food? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lincoln area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.6), so the average $31,130 buys what about $33,992 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Lincoln ($49,800). A typical home costs $304,242, or 9.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other Nebraska cities
Lincoln ranks 3rd of 3 Nebraska metro areas for this job; Omaha pays the most ($32,490).
- Omaha$32,490
- Grand Island$31,330
- Lincoln$31,130
Highest-paying cities for cooks, fast food
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($46,590).
- San Francisco, CA$46,590
- San Jose, CA$46,530
- Vallejo, CA$44,360
- Napa, CA$43,910
- Seattle, WA$43,770
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Cooks, Fast Food salary in Lincoln: questions
How much do cooks, fast food make an hour in Lincoln?
$14.97 an hour on average, and $14.15 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in Lincoln?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,260, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, fast food take-home pay in Lincoln?
About $26,630 a year ($2,219 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,130.
Do cooks, fast food earn more in Lincoln than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($32,390).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2011; area Lincoln, NE (30700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.02, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.