Cooks, Fast Food pay range in Salem
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,580 a year or less, while the top 10% make $42,730 or more. The middle half of cooks, fast food in Salem earn between $32,490 and $37,320.
- $31K10th
- $32K25th
- $34KMedian
- $37K75th
- $43K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,810 | $2,984 | $17.22 |
| Median | $33,870 | $2,822 | $16.28 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $32,490 | $2,708 | $15.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,320 | $3,110 | $17.94 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Fast Food pay in Salem vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Cooks, fast food in Salem earn 9% less than the Oregon average ($39,310) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($32,390). At the median the gap is +10% against the U.S. median of $30,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | $35,810 | $33,870 | $30,580 | $42,730 | 420 |
| Oregon | $39,310 | $37,880 | $31,610 | $49,240 | 4,300 |
| 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 Salem
On the average salary of $35,810, a single filer in Salem takes home about $28,563 a year, or $2,380 a month and $1,099 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Salem a good place for cooks, fast food? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salem area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $35,810 buys what about $34,549 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Salem ($55,310). A typical home costs $454,689, or 12.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other Oregon cities
Salem ranks 5th of 5 Oregon metro areas for this job; Portland pays the most ($41,910).
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 Salem: questions
How much do cooks, fast food make an hour in Salem?
$17.22 an hour on average, and $16.29 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in Salem?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,580 a year and the 25th percentile is $32,490, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, fast food take-home pay in Salem?
About $28,563 a year ($2,380 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,810. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do cooks, fast food earn more in Salem than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Salem, OR (41420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.5%.
- 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). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.54, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.54).
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