Cooks, Fast Food pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,170 a year or less, while the top 10% make $27,820 or more. The middle half of cooks, fast food in Charleston earn between $22,380 and $26,850.
- $22K10th
- $22K25th
- $23KMedian
- $27K75th
- $28K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $24,520 | $2,043 | $11.79 |
| Median | $23,180 | $1,932 | $11.14 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $22,380 | $1,865 | $10.76 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $26,850 | $2,238 | $12.91 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Fast Food pay in Charleston vs. West Virginia and the U.S.
Cooks, fast food in Charleston earn about the same as the West Virginia average ($24,720) and 24% less than the U.S. average ($32,390). At the median the gap is -25% against the U.S. median of $30,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $24,520 | $23,180 | $22,170 | $27,820 | 2,230 |
| West Virginia | $24,720 | $23,120 | $21,600 | $28,300 | 16,490 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $24,520, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $21,239 a year, or $1,770 a month and $817 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for cooks, fast food? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.7), so the average $24,520 buys what about $27,638 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($45,830). A typical home costs $148,817, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other West Virginia cities
Charleston ranks 2nd of 6 West Virginia metro areas for this job; Weirton pays the most ($25,320).
- Weirton$25,320
- Charleston$24,520
- Wheeling$24,520
- Parkersburg$24,170
- Huntington$24,150
- Beckley$23,690
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Cooks, Fast Food salary in Charleston: questions
How much do cooks, fast food make an hour in Charleston?
$11.79 an hour on average, and $11.14 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,170 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,380, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, fast food take-home pay in Charleston?
About $21,239 a year ($1,770 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $24,520.
Do cooks, fast food earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% 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 Charleston, WV (16620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 5.22, this job is 5.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.