Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $34,540 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,278 take-home, or $2,440 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,965
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,141
- Medicare (1.45%)$501
- Arizona income tax$655
- Take-home pay$29,278
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,910 | $14.86 | $26,452 | $2,204 |
| 25th percentile | $31,790 | $15.28 | $27,137 | $2,261 |
| Median (50th) | $34,540 | $16.61 | $29,278 | $2,440 |
| 75th percentile | $35,980 | $17.30 | $30,399 | $2,533 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,170 | $21.72 | $37,554 | $3,129 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,540 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $29,278 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,338 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 Phoenix, AZ as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Phoenix, AZ ranks #59 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 |
| 59 | Phoenix, AZ | $34,540 | $29,278 | $28,338 |
*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 Arizona
- Flagstaff, AZ — $33,690
- Tucson, AZ — $31,690
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Phoenix, AZ?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $34,540 a year, or about $16.61 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,790 and $35,980.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $34,540 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $29,278 a year ($2,440 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $655 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,338 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #59 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 for two bedrooms) — 65% 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 Phoenix, AZ
- Chef and Head Cook — $61,400
- Waiter and Waitress — $47,530
- Bartender — $46,940
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,100
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $40,120
- Cooks, Restaurant — $39,170
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,580
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $36,960
- Dishwasher — $35,780
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,690
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $35,080
- Cooks, Fast Food — $33,190