SOC 35-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Fast Food — Beckley
Beckley, WV · 5 metro areas compared
Median pay in Beckley, WV is $22,370 a year, 27.6% under the national median of $30,890 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in Beckley, WV is $22,370 a year, 27.6% under the national median of $30,890 for this occupation. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $21,780 and $26,090. The lowest tenth earn under $21,120, while the highest tenth earn more than $26,920.
The area has 1,170 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 6.61 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Weirton records the highest median at $23,710. Of the 196 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 196th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,120 | −31.6% |
| 25th | $21,780 | −29.5% |
| Median (50th) | $22,370 | −27.6% |
| 75th | $26,090 | −15.5% |
| 90th | $26,920 | −12.9% |
| Mean | $23,690 | −23.3% |
Other metro areas in West Virginia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weirton | $23,710 | 450 | |
| 2 | Charleston | $23,180 | 2,230 | |
| 3 | Wheeling | $23,110 | 810 | |
| 4 | Parkersburg | $22,780 | 1,120 | |
| 5 | Huntington | $22,610 | 3,070 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Beckley run 10.5% below the national average, so the median of $22,370 goes as far as $24,994 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 19.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$22,370as reported by BLSLocal price level
89.5US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$24,994US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $22,370 a year, 27.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $21,120 to $26,920 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,170 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Weirton, at $23,710.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Beckley, WV?
The median annual wage is $22,370, or $10.76 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $30,890, so pay in Beckley, WV is 27.6% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Beckley, WV earns more than $26,920 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $21,120 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Weirton, at $23,710 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,170 jobs in this occupation in Beckley, WV. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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