Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Portland, OR
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median $35,620 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,514 take-home, or $2,376 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Portland, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,094
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,208
- Medicare (1.45%)$516
- Oregon income tax$2,287
- Take-home pay$28,514
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.75% state
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro spans Oregon, Washington. 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 Portland, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,280 | $16.48 | $27,554 | $2,296 |
| 25th percentile | $34,890 | $16.77 | $27,991 | $2,333 |
| Median (50th) | $35,620 | $17.13 | $28,514 | $2,376 |
| 75th percentile | $37,690 | $18.12 | $29,996 | $2,500 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,320 | $21.79 | $35,459 | $2,955 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,620 buys in Portland, OR
Prices in Portland, OR are 5.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.25× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $28,514 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,047 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 Portland, OR as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.16).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, OR ranks #89 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 |
| 89 | Portland, OR | $35,620 | $28,514 | $27,047 |
*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 Oregon
- Bend, OR — $35,460
- Medford, OR — $34,140
- Eugene, OR — $33,990
- Salem, OR — $34,520
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Portland, OR?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $35,620 a year, or about $17.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,890 and $37,690.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Portland, OR?
On the median $35,620 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $28,514 a year ($2,376 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,287 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 14% above the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,047 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, OR ranks #89 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Portland, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Portland, OR is $1,677 a month ($1,922 for two bedrooms) — 71% 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 Portland, OR
- Waiter and Waitress — $54,780
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $48,900
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $45,800
- Bartender — $45,590
- Cooks, Restaurant — $45,200
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $43,410
- Food Preparation Worker — $38,730
- Cooks, Fast Food — $38,580
- Dishwasher — $37,250
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $37,230