Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Kansas City, MO
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area earn a median $29,560 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,479 take-home, or $2,123 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Kansas City, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,367
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,833
- Medicare (1.45%)$429
- Missouri income tax$452
- Take-home pay$25,479
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in Kansas City, MO? City residents also pay Kansas City, MO’s Earnings Tax — about $296 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $25,184 ($2,099 a month). Choose “Kansas City, MO” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Kansas City, MO-KS metro spans Missouri, Kansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Kansas City, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,550 | $11.32 | $20,827 | $1,736 |
| 25th percentile | $28,600 | $13.75 | $24,753 | $2,063 |
| Median (50th) | $29,560 | $14.21 | $25,479 | $2,123 |
| 75th percentile | $33,780 | $16.24 | $28,672 | $2,389 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,840 | $17.23 | $30,230 | $2,519 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,560 buys in Kansas City, MO
Prices in Kansas City, MO are 7.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 13% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $25,479 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,533 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 Kansas City, MO than nationally (location quotient 0.74), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Kansas City, MO ranks #73 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 |
| 73 | Kansas City, MO | $29,560 | $25,479 | $27,533 |
*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 Missouri
- Springfield, MO — $29,950
- St. Louis, MO — $31,260
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Kansas City, MO?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area is $29,560 a year, or about $14.21 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,600 and $33,780.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Kansas City, MO?
On the median $29,560 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $25,479 a year ($2,123 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $452 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Kansas City, MO a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 7.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,533 would in a typical U.S. city. Kansas City, MO ranks #73 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Kansas City, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Kansas City, MO is $1,193 a month ($1,355 for two bedrooms) — 56% 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 Kansas City, MO
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,210
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,370
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,080
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,080
- Dishwasher — $34,800
- Food Preparation Worker — $32,230
- Bartender — $30,300
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $30,200
- Cooks, Fast Food — $30,170
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,280