Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Santa Cruz, CA
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median $43,400 a year — 39% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,762 take-home, or $2,980 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Santa Cruz, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,028
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,691
- Medicare (1.45%)$629
- California income tax$725
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$564
- Take-home pay$35,762
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Santa Cruz, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,120 | $16.88 | $29,548 | $2,462 |
| 25th percentile | $36,530 | $17.56 | $30,606 | $2,551 |
| Median (50th) | $43,400 | $20.87 | $35,762 | $2,980 |
| 75th percentile | $44,880 | $21.58 | $36,873 | $3,073 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,930 | $22.56 | $38,412 | $3,201 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,400 buys in Santa Cruz, CA
Prices in Santa Cruz, CA are 9.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.64× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $35,762 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,542 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Santa Cruz, CA has 1.3× the national concentration of fast food and counter worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Santa Cruz, CA ranks #10 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 |
| 10 | Santa Cruz, CA | $43,400 | $35,762 | $32,542 |
*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 California
- Modesto, CA — $42,630
- Vallejo, CA — $44,110
- Santa Rosa, CA — $43,610
- San Jose, CA — $44,570
- Sacramento, CA — $42,860
- Stockton, CA — $41,740
- Riverside, CA — $42,280
- Salinas, CA — $43,260
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Santa Cruz, CA?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $43,400 a year, or about $20.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,530 and $44,880.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Santa Cruz, CA?
On the median $43,400 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $35,762 a year ($2,980 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,290 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Santa Cruz, CA a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 39% above the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 9.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,542 would in a typical U.S. city. Santa Cruz, CA ranks #10 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Santa Cruz, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Santa Cruz, CA is $3,298 a month ($4,214 for two bedrooms) — 111% of a median fast food and counter worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.