Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Nashville, TN
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median $29,150 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,602 take-home, or $2,134 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Nashville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,318
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,807
- Medicare (1.45%)$423
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$25,602
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Nashville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,280 | $10.71 | $19,958 | $1,663 |
| 25th percentile | $26,790 | $12.88 | $23,672 | $1,973 |
| Median (50th) | $29,150 | $14.01 | $25,602 | $2,134 |
| 75th percentile | $31,560 | $15.17 | $27,538 | $2,295 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,200 | $17.40 | $31,267 | $2,606 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,150 buys in Nashville, TN
Prices in Nashville, TN are 3.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $25,602 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,575 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 about as common in Nashville, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.05).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Nashville, TN ranks #109 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 |
| 109 | Nashville, TN | $29,150 | $25,602 | $26,575 |
*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 Tennessee
- Kingsport, TN — $26,890
- Jackson, TN — $26,360
- Johnson City, TN — $26,270
- Knoxville, TN — $27,720
- Memphis, TN — $27,490
- Clarksville, TN — $26,990
- Chattanooga, TN — $27,140
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Nashville, TN?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $29,150 a year, or about $14.01 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $26,790 and $31,560.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Nashville, TN?
On the median $29,150 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $25,602 a year ($2,134 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Nashville, TN a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 3.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,575 would in a typical U.S. city. Nashville, TN ranks #109 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Nashville, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Nashville, TN is $1,530 a month ($1,685 for two bedrooms) — 72% 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 Nashville, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,630
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,170
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,910
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,640
- Dishwasher — $34,380
- Cooks, Fast Food — $34,210
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,520
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,390
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,800
- Bartender — $28,190