$ PaycheckDecoded

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.

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
1Hanford, CA$42,060$34,757$34,2051,610
2El Centro, CA$38,840$32,340$33,9801,630
3Modesto, CA$42,630$35,184$33,7966,700
4Vallejo, CA$44,110$36,295$33,4584,430
5Yuba City, CA$42,040$34,742$33,3311,630
6Santa Rosa, CA$43,610$35,920$33,3264,720
7San Jose, CA$44,570$36,640$33,18223,060
8Sacramento, CA$42,860$35,357$33,14624,910
9Napa, CA$45,410$37,271$33,1141,440
10Stockton, CA$41,740$34,517$32,8457,560
11Riverside, CA$42,280$34,922$32,80851,310
12Salinas, CA$43,260$35,657$32,7014,180
13Santa Maria, CA$42,940$35,417$32,5535,930
14Santa Cruz, CA$43,400$35,762$32,5423,220
15Bakersfield, CA$39,470$32,813$32,5259,180
16Merced, CA$38,200$31,860$32,4192,500
17Yakima, WA$35,830$30,969$32,4133,280
18Redding, CA$39,160$32,580$32,3591,930
19Visalia, CA$38,600$32,160$32,2164,850
20San Luis Obispo, CA$42,350$34,974$32,2063,310
21Lewiston, ID$34,650$29,293$32,134930
22Fresno, CA$39,480$32,820$32,12712,330
23Longview, WA$36,020$31,122$31,9051,440
24Oxnard, CA$42,370$34,989$31,6559,520
25Chico, CA$38,210$31,867$31,4902,630

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

Highest-paying cities

Fast Food and Counter Worker salary by state

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

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, Hanford, 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 386 cities