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Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary

Fast Food and Counter Workers earn a median $31,200 a year nationally. Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations

U.S. median
$31,200
$15.00 per hour
Range
$22,840 – $42,650
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
3,854,050
across the U.S.
▲2.4%
Pay trend: The median for fast food and counter workers in the U.S. rose from $30,480 (May 2024) to $31,200 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).

What fast food and counter workers do

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)
Openings per year
827,400

Employment of fast food and counter workers is projected to grow 5.8% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 827,400 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Fast Food and Counter Worker take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Fast Food and Counter Worker
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$27,249
per year · effective tax rate 12.7%
$2,271Monthly
$1,135Twice a month
$1,048Every 2 weeks
$13.10Hourly
  • Federal income tax$1,564
  • Social Security (6.2%)$1,934
  • Medicare (1.45%)$452
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$27,249

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$22,840$10.98$20,419
25th percentile$27,700$13.32$24,421
Median (50th)$31,200$15.00$27,249
75th percentile$36,070$17.34$31,162
90th percentile (top earners)$42,650$20.50$36,449

Best cities for fast food and counter workers (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Modesto, CA$42,630$35,184$33,7966,700
2Vallejo, CA$44,110$36,295$33,4584,430
3Santa Rosa, CA$43,610$35,920$33,3264,720
4San Jose, CA$44,570$36,640$33,18223,060
5Sacramento, CA$42,860$35,357$33,14624,910
6Stockton, CA$41,740$34,517$32,8457,560
7Riverside, CA$42,280$34,922$32,80851,310
8Salinas, CA$43,260$35,657$32,7014,180
9Santa Maria, CA$42,940$35,417$32,5535,930
10Santa Cruz, CA$43,400$35,762$32,5423,220
11Bakersfield, CA$39,470$32,813$32,5259,180
12Merced, CA$38,200$31,860$32,4192,500
13Yakima, WA$35,830$30,969$32,4133,280
14Visalia, CA$38,600$32,160$32,2164,850
15San Luis Obispo, CA$42,350$34,974$32,2063,310
16Fresno, CA$39,480$32,820$32,12712,330
17Oxnard, CA$42,370$34,989$31,6559,520
18Chico, CA$38,210$31,867$31,4902,630
19Kennewick, WA$36,410$31,435$31,4114,120
20San Francisco, CA$43,870$36,115$31,23849,970
21San Diego, CA$42,190$34,854$31,15142,550
22Burlington, VT$37,190$31,250$30,9562,770
23Bellingham, WA$37,030$31,934$30,9032,830
24Spokane, WA$35,780$30,929$30,8237,870
25Los Angeles, CA$42,110$34,794$30,638160,270

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Fast Food and Counter Worker salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
California $42,280+14.2%$34,922 $35,530 – $47,950449,840
Washington $37,710+2.4%$32,480 $35,050 – $47,86094,710
District of Columbia $37,430−2.1%$31,175 $37,260 – $46,8005,500
Colorado $36,270+2.3%$30,435 $31,040 – $44,10082,010
Vermont $36,030+4.3%$30,357 $30,450 – $46,0806,830
Massachusetts $35,850+2.3%$29,413 $31,290 – $38,70085,810
Connecticut $35,380+4.1%$29,941 $34,010 – $39,66035,720
Hawaii $35,250+14.2%$29,256 $29,120 – $45,14024,130
New York $35,250−0.1%$29,197 $32,240 – $44,740168,620
Oregon $35,050+1.8%$28,105 $30,950 – $44,37059,920
Maine $34,710+1.0%$28,848 $30,740 – $42,64017,250
Arizona $34,230+3.5%$29,037 $30,760 – $43,99077,210
New Jersey $34,150+2.6%$29,109 $32,220 – $39,13093,730
Illinois $33,910+6.3%$27,893 $31,200 – $37,330127,590
Maryland $33,660+7.9%$27,991 $31,200 – $37,39049,380
Alaska $33,280−3.3%$28,920 $24,830 – $45,1705,900
Nevada $31,950+9.5%$27,852 $26,630 – $42,86045,850
New Hampshire $31,590+4.2%$27,563 $22,580 – $38,44014,540
Rhode Island $31,490+3.4%$26,918 $31,200 – $36,54013,310
Minnesota $31,370−1.8%$26,526 $28,190 – $37,14058,970
Delaware $31,300+3.6%$26,269 $31,200 – $37,53013,310
Missouri $30,390+3.7%$26,107 $28,600 – $36,83029,360
Virginia $30,110+3.6%$25,456 $27,130 – $37,550104,460
North Dakota $30,080+0.2%$26,349 $22,750 – $37,38011,470
South Dakota $29,490+0.0%$25,875 $27,880 – $36,38015,150
Montana $29,090−0.6%$24,943 $22,760 – $36,78014,960
Florida $29,080+3.9%$25,546 $27,570 – $36,430235,400
Nebraska $29,000−1.4%$24,994 $28,080 – $35,76030,060
Idaho $28,940+1.7%$25,008 $20,130 – $36,33025,810
Michigan $28,930+0.2%$24,446 $25,960 – $35,970103,130
Indiana $28,790+1.8%$24,493 $22,110 – $35,82097,290
New Mexico $28,700+0.2%$24,931 $26,670 – $36,36028,250
Utah $28,670+0.0%$24,892 $21,980 – $36,67052,340
Wisconsin $28,600+0.4%$24,672 $22,240 – $36,09067,750
North Carolina $28,570−0.7%$24,505 $21,800 – $36,82092,230
Pennsylvania $28,570+0.3%$24,259 $22,030 – $35,880142,220
Ohio $28,430+1.2%$25,022 $23,200 – $34,920163,560
Iowa $28,390−0.0%$24,562 $21,620 – $35,99040,290
Wyoming $27,860−1.2%$24,553 $20,300 – $37,0207,060
Texas $27,740+2.7%$24,454 $21,710 – $35,680460,530
Kansas $27,580+2.1%$23,552 $21,620 – $34,28047,140
South Carolina $27,520+2.6%$23,779 $22,340 – $35,02065,070
Tennessee $27,470−1.3%$24,232 $21,850 – $35,06090,690
Kentucky $27,130−0.1%$23,120 $21,590 – $34,42041,860
Georgia $26,920+2.3%$23,004 $20,910 – $36,110145,030
Arkansas $26,250−1.8%$22,416 $23,240 – $32,12035,660
West Virginia $26,070+4.4%$22,440 $18,750 – $35,1506,240
Alabama $23,700+0.9%$20,207 $21,080 – $32,74041,460
Oklahoma $23,430−0.7%$20,396 $20,510 – $30,30052,520
Louisiana $22,800−1.3%$20,088 $18,610 – $33,32045,720
Mississippi $22,610+1.5%$20,057 $18,530 – $29,09031,220

Related jobs

JobMedian salaryEducationGrowth 2025–35
Bartender$34,340No formal educational credential+5.0%
Waiter and Waitress$35,230No formal educational credential+2.0%
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$35,360No formal educational credential+4.5%
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$31,200No formal educational credential+3.4%
Cooks, Fast Food$30,890No formal educational credential+0.6%
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper$33,980No formal educational credential+5.3%
Dishwasher$34,810No formal educational credential-1.0%
Food Preparation Worker$35,320No formal educational credential-3.0%
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$35,840No formal educational credential+5.5%
Cooks, Short Order$35,880No formal educational credential-5.2%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a fast food and counter worker make?

The national median salary for fast food and counter workers is $31,200 a year ($15.00 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $22,840 and the top 10% earn over $42,650. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays fast food and counter workers the most?

California has the highest median pay at $42,280. After taxes and local prices, Modesto, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many fast food and counter workers are there in the U.S.?

About 3,854,050 people work as fast food and counter workers nationwide.

All 241 cities