Cooks, Fast Food pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,240 a year or less, while the top 10% make $37,710 or more. The middle half of cooks, fast food in Rochester earn between $32,260 and $35,100.
- $32K10th
- $32K25th
- $33KMedian
- $35K75th
- $38K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,930 | $2,911 | $16.79 |
| Median | $33,380 | $2,782 | $16.05 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $32,260 | $2,688 | $15.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,100 | $2,925 | $16.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Fast Food pay in Rochester vs. New York and the U.S.
Cooks, fast food in Rochester earn 5% less than the New York average ($36,800) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($32,390). At the median the gap is +8% against the U.S. median of $30,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $34,930 | $33,380 | $32,240 | $37,710 | 920 |
| 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 Rochester
On the average salary of $34,930, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $28,930 a year, or $2,411 a month and $1,113 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 Rochester a good place for cooks, fast food? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.0), so the average $34,930 buys what about $35,997 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($51,210). A typical home costs $285,034, or 8.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other New York cities
Rochester ranks 7th 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 Rochester: questions
How much do cooks, fast food make an hour in Rochester?
$16.79 an hour on average, and $16.05 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,240 a year and the 25th percentile is $32,260, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, fast food take-home pay in Rochester?
About $28,930 a year ($2,411 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,930. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do cooks, fast food earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Rochester, NY (40380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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 0.45, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.45).
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