Salaries › Fast Food Cook › New Jersey
Fast Food Cook Salary in New Jersey (2026)
$15.49 per hour · take-home ≈ $27,575/year ($2,298/month) for a single filer
New Jersey ranks 20th of 51 states for Fast Food Cook pay, with a median about 1% above the national average. Of the 3,440 Fast Food Cook jobs BLS counts in New Jersey, the typical worker earns $32,220 a year — though pay ranges from $32,220 for newcomers to $41,860 at the top.
Fast Food Cook pay range in New Jersey
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $32,220 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $32,220 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $32,220 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $36,930 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $41,860 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 3,440 Fast Food Cook jobs in New Jersey (occupation code 35-2011, “Cooks, Fast Food”).
Gross vs. take-home in New Jersey
A median Fast Food Cook salary of $32,220 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus New Jersey state income tax, a single filer keeps about $27,575 — an effective tax rate of 14.4%.
| Gross (median) | $32,220 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,686 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,465 |
| New Jersey state income tax | −$494 |
| Take-home (annual) | $27,575 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,298 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free New Jersey paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Fast Food Cook make in New Jersey?
- The median Fast Food Cook salary in New Jersey is $32,220 per year ($15.49 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $32,220 and $36,930.
- What is the take-home pay for a Fast Food Cook in New Jersey?
- On the median salary of $32,220, a single filer in New Jersey takes home about $27,575 per year ($2,298 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 14.4%.
- How many Fast Food Cook jobs are there in New Jersey?
- BLS counts 3,440 Fast Food Cook jobs in New Jersey in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Fast Food Cooks
Other salaries in New Jersey
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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey.