Cooks, Fast Food pay range in Buffalo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,490 a year or less, while the top 10% make $40,250 or more. The middle half of cooks, fast food in Buffalo earn between $33,060 and $36,730.
- $32K10th
- $33K25th
- $34KMedian
- $37K75th
- $40K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,330 | $2,944 | $16.99 |
| Median | $33,690 | $2,808 | $16.20 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,060 | $2,755 | $15.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,730 | $3,061 | $17.66 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Fast Food pay in Buffalo vs. New York and the U.S.
Cooks, fast food in Buffalo earn 4% less than the New York average ($36,800) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($32,390). At the median the gap is +9% against the U.S. median of $30,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | $35,330 | $33,690 | $32,490 | $40,250 | 600 |
| New York | $36,800 | $35,770 | $32,770 | $40,250 | 11,710 |
| 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 Buffalo
On the average salary of $35,330, a single filer in Buffalo takes home about $29,230 a year, or $2,436 a month and $1,124 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Buffalo a good place for cooks, fast food? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Buffalo area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.8), so the average $35,330 buys what about $36,862 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Buffalo ($50,790). A typical home costs $288,316, or 8.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other New York cities
Buffalo ranks 6th of 9 New York metro areas for this job; Kingston pays the most ($41,540).
- Kingston$41,540
- New York$36,760
- Glens Falls$36,180
- Binghamton$35,870
- Syracuse$35,340
- Buffalo$35,330
- Rochester$34,930
- Utica$34,590
- Albany$33,690
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
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Cooks, Fast Food salary in Buffalo: questions
How much do cooks, fast food make an hour in Buffalo?
$16.99 an hour on average, and $16.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in Buffalo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,490 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,060, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, fast food take-home pay in Buffalo?
About $29,230 a year ($2,436 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,330. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do cooks, fast food earn more in Buffalo than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% more 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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY (15380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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 (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.27, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.27).
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