Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Colorado Springs, CO
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Colorado Springs, CO metro area earn a median $34,420 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,030 take-home, or $2,419 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Colorado Springs, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,950
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,134
- Medicare (1.45%)$499
- Colorado income tax$806
- Take-home pay$29,030
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Colorado Springs, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,940 | $14.88 | $26,387 | $2,199 |
| 25th percentile | $31,380 | $15.09 | $26,722 | $2,227 |
| Median (50th) | $34,420 | $16.55 | $29,030 | $2,419 |
| 75th percentile | $36,540 | $17.57 | $30,641 | $2,553 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,490 | $19.95 | $34,400 | $2,867 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,420 buys in Colorado Springs, CO
Prices in Colorado Springs, CO are 0.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.16× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $29,030 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,827 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Colorado Springs, CO has 1.5× the national concentration of fast food and counter worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Colorado Springs, CO ranks #48 of 241 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Modesto, CA | $42,630 | $35,184 | $33,796 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $44,110 | $36,295 | $33,458 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $43,610 | $35,920 | $33,326 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $44,570 | $36,640 | $33,182 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $42,860 | $35,357 | $33,146 |
| 6 | Stockton, CA | $41,740 | $34,517 | $32,845 |
| 7 | Riverside, CA | $42,280 | $34,922 | $32,808 |
| 8 | Salinas, CA | $43,260 | $35,657 | $32,701 |
| 48 | Colorado Springs, CO | $34,420 | $29,030 | $28,827 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 241 metros →
About the job: fast food and counter workers
Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages. Counter attendants who also wait tables are included in "Waiters and Waitresses" (35-3031),
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.8% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Fast Food and Counter Worker salaries elsewhere in Colorado
- Denver, CO — $37,070
- Fort Collins, CO — $34,850
- Boulder, CO — $36,190
- Grand Junction, CO — $31,510
- Greeley, CO — $33,030
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Colorado Springs, CO?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Colorado Springs, CO metro area is $34,420 a year, or about $16.55 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,380 and $36,540.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Colorado Springs, CO?
On the median $34,420 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $29,030 a year ($2,419 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $806 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Colorado Springs, CO a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 0.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,827 would in a typical U.S. city. Colorado Springs, CO ranks #48 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Colorado Springs, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Colorado Springs, CO is $1,461 a month ($1,727 for two bedrooms) — 60% of a median fast food and counter worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Colorado Springs, CO
- Waiter and Waitress — $46,230
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,390
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,000