Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Greensboro, NC
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Greensboro-High Point, NC metro area earn a median $28,200 a year — 10% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,216 take-home, or $2,018 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Greensboro, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,210
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,748
- Medicare (1.45%)$409
- North Carolina income tax$616
- Take-home pay$24,216
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.99% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Greensboro, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,450 | $10.31 | $18,927 | $1,577 |
| 25th percentile | $22,810 | $10.97 | $19,993 | $1,666 |
| Median (50th) | $28,200 | $13.56 | $24,216 | $2,018 |
| 75th percentile | $33,620 | $16.16 | $28,361 | $2,363 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,190 | $17.40 | $30,323 | $2,527 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,200 buys in Greensboro, NC
Prices in Greensboro, NC are 7.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 25% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $24,216 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,077 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Fast Food and Counter Worker jobs are less concentrated in Greensboro, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.75), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Greensboro, NC ranks #142 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 |
| 142 | Greensboro, NC | $28,200 | $24,216 | $26,077 |
*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 North Carolina
- Hickory, NC — $27,580
- Winston, NC — $28,640
- Fayetteville, NC — $28,170
- Durham, NC — $29,170
- Asheville, NC — $28,810
- Charlotte, NC — $28,880
- Raleigh, NC — $29,080
- Wilmington, NC — $27,460
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Greensboro, NC?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Greensboro-High Point, NC metro area is $28,200 a year, or about $13.56 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $22,810 and $33,620.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Greensboro, NC?
On the median $28,200 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $24,216 a year ($2,018 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $616 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Greensboro, NC a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 10% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 7.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,077 would in a typical U.S. city. Greensboro, NC ranks #142 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Greensboro, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Greensboro, NC is $1,164 a month ($1,296 for two bedrooms) — 58% 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 Greensboro, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,810
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,550
- Waiter and Waitress — $30,060
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,880