prevailing wage · DOL OFLC 2025-26
Cooks, Fast Food prevailing wage in Bakersfield-Delano, CA
The official U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage for Cooks, Fast Food (SOC 35-2011) in Bakersfield-Delano, CA, by experience level. This is the legal wage floor an H-1B / E-3 / H-1B1 employer commits to on the LCA, and the benchmark behind PERM green-card and OPT offers.
Level I
$34,216
$16.45/hr
Level II
$35,526
$17.08/hr
Level III
$36,837
$17.71/hr
Level IV
$38,147
$18.34/hr
| level | per year | who it applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Level I | $34,216 | entry-level — routine tasks under close supervision (≈17th percentile) |
| Level II | $35,526 | qualified — moderately complex tasks (≈34th percentile) |
| Level III | $36,837 | experienced — independent judgment (≈50th percentile) |
| Level IV | $38,147 | fully competent — lead/expert (≈67th percentile) |
How to use this
Find the level that matches the experience required for the role (be honest — it sets your floor), then compare it to the salary you’re offered. If your offer is below the level that fits the job, that’s a negotiating signal — and for H-1B/E-3/H-1B1, paying below the prevailing wage violates the LCA the employer signed.
Source: DOL OFLC prevailing wage data (2025-26). Levels ≈ 17/34/50/67th percentiles of the OEWS distribution. Educational, not legal advice — verify on flag.dol.gov.