Salaries › Fast Food Cook › Colorado
Fast Food Cook Salary in Colorado (2026)
$17.74 per hour · take-home ≈ $30,914/year ($2,576/month) for a single filer
Colorado ranks 9th of 51 states for Fast Food Cook pay, with a median about 16% above the national average. Of the 9,220 Fast Food Cook jobs BLS counts in Colorado, the typical worker earns $36,900 a year — though pay ranges from $31,970 for newcomers to $46,610 at the top.
Fast Food Cook pay range in Colorado
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $31,970 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $34,790 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $36,900 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $38,990 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $46,610 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 9,220 Fast Food Cook jobs in Colorado (occupation code 35-2011, “Cooks, Fast Food”).
Gross vs. take-home in Colorado
A median Fast Food Cook salary of $36,900 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Colorado state income tax, a single filer keeps about $30,914 — an effective tax rate of 16.2%.
| Gross (median) | $36,900 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,248 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,823 |
| Colorado state income tax | −$915 |
| Take-home (annual) | $30,914 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,576 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Colorado paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Fast Food Cook make in Colorado?
- The median Fast Food Cook salary in Colorado is $36,900 per year ($17.74 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $34,790 and $38,990.
- What is the take-home pay for a Fast Food Cook in Colorado?
- On the median salary of $36,900, a single filer in Colorado takes home about $30,914 per year ($2,576 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.2%.
- How many Fast Food Cook jobs are there in Colorado?
- BLS counts 9,220 Fast Food Cook jobs in Colorado in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Fast Food Cooks
Other salaries in Colorado
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Colorado state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Colorado.