Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Fresno, CA
Cooks, Fast Food in the Fresno, CA metro area earn a median $39,620 a year — 28% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,925 take-home, or $2,744 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, fast food salary in Fresno, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,574
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,456
- Medicare (1.45%)$574
- California income tax$574
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$515
- Take-home pay$32,925
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Fast Food pay by experience in Fresno, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,320 | $16.50 | $28,948 | $2,412 |
| 25th percentile | $34,670 | $16.67 | $29,211 | $2,434 |
| Median (50th) | $39,620 | $19.05 | $32,925 | $2,744 |
| 75th percentile | $42,360 | $20.37 | $34,982 | $2,915 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,350 | $23.25 | $39,450 | $3,288 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,620 buys in Fresno, CA
Prices in Fresno, CA are 2.2% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 4% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, fast food's $32,925 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,230 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Fresno, CA has 2.0× the national concentration of cooks, fast food jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cooks, fast food, adjusted for cost of living
Fresno, CA ranks #8 of 53 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $47,220 | $38,625 | $34,979 |
| 2 | Bakersfield, CA | $41,480 | $34,321 | $34,020 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $38,560 | $33,163 | $33,817 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $44,030 | $37,558 | $33,796 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $46,670 | $38,217 | $33,056 |
| 6 | Riverside, CA | $42,480 | $35,072 | $32,949 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $42,210 | $34,869 | $32,689 |
| 8 | Fresno, CA | $39,620 | $32,925 | $32,230 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 53 metros →
About the job: cooks, fast food
Prepare and cook food in a fast food restaurant with a limited menu. Duties of these cooks are limited to preparation of a few basic items and normally involve operating large-volume single-purpose cooking equipment.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +0.6% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cooks, Fast Food salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $47,220
- Bakersfield, CA — $41,480
- San Francisco, CA — $46,670
- Riverside, CA — $42,480
- Sacramento, CA — $42,210
- Oxnard, CA — $42,530
- San Diego, CA — $42,450
- Los Angeles, CA — $38,000
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, fast food make in Fresno, CA?
The median cooks, fast food salary in the Fresno, CA metro area is $39,620 a year, or about $19.05 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,670 and $42,360.
What is a cooks, fast food’s take-home pay in Fresno, CA?
On the median $39,620 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $32,925 a year ($2,744 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,089 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Fresno, CA a good place to work as a cooks, fast food?
Pay here is 28% above the national median of $30,890. Local prices are 2.2% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,230 would in a typical U.S. city. Fresno, CA ranks #8 of 53 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, fast food afford rent in Fresno, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Fresno, CA is $1,315 a month ($1,625 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median cooks, fast food’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Fresno, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,730
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $39,480
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,260
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,320