Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Tampa, FL
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area earn a median $29,260 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,690 take-home, or $2,141 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Tampa, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,331
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,814
- Medicare (1.45%)$424
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$25,690
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 Tampa, FL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,580 | $13.26 | $24,322 | $2,027 |
| 25th percentile | $28,070 | $13.50 | $24,726 | $2,060 |
| Median (50th) | $29,260 | $14.07 | $25,690 | $2,141 |
| 75th percentile | $33,110 | $15.92 | $28,784 | $2,399 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,820 | $17.70 | $31,765 | $2,647 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,260 buys in Tampa, FL
Prices in Tampa, FL are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.26× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $25,690 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,464 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 Tampa, FL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Tampa, FL ranks #172 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 |
| 172 | Tampa, FL | $29,260 | $25,690 | $25,464 |
*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 Florida
- Naples, FL — $33,830
- Crestview, FL — $29,220
- Tallahassee, FL — $27,600
- Ocala, FL — $27,880
- Gainesville, FL — $28,280
- North Port, FL — $30,000
- Pensacola, FL — $28,360
- Port St. Lucie, FL — $29,130
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Tampa, FL?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area is $29,260 a year, or about $14.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,070 and $33,110.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Tampa, FL?
On the median $29,260 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $25,690 a year ($2,141 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Tampa, FL a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,464 would in a typical U.S. city. Tampa, FL ranks #172 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Tampa, FL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tampa, FL is $1,696 a month ($1,977 for two bedrooms) — 79% 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 Tampa, FL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,240
- Bartender — $37,460
- Waiter and Waitress — $37,070
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,010
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,330
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,040
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,480
- Dishwasher — $31,670
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $31,150
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,880