Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Albuquerque, NM
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Albuquerque, NM metro area earn a median $29,140 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,270 take-home, or $2,106 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Albuquerque, NM. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,317
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,807
- Medicare (1.45%)$423
- New Mexico income tax$324
- Take-home pay$25,270
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.20% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Albuquerque, NM
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,160 | $13.54 | $24,507 | $2,042 |
| 25th percentile | $28,550 | $13.73 | $24,815 | $2,068 |
| Median (50th) | $29,140 | $14.01 | $25,270 | $2,106 |
| 75th percentile | $29,920 | $14.38 | $25,872 | $2,156 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,720 | $17.65 | $31,073 | $2,589 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New Mexico resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,140 buys in Albuquerque, NM
Prices in Albuquerque, NM are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $25,270 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,448 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Albuquerque, NM has 1.4× 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
Albuquerque, NM ranks #112 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 |
| 112 | Albuquerque, NM | $29,140 | $25,270 | $26,448 |
*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 New Mexico
- Las Cruces, NM — $27,560
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Albuquerque, NM?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Albuquerque, NM metro area is $29,140 a year, or about $14.01 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,550 and $29,920.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Albuquerque, NM?
On the median $29,140 salary, a single filer living in New Mexico takes home about $25,270 a year ($2,106 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $324 in New Mexico taxes in 2026.
Is Albuquerque, NM a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,448 would in a typical U.S. city. Albuquerque, NM ranks #112 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Albuquerque, NM?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Albuquerque, NM is $1,185 a month ($1,464 for two bedrooms) — 56% 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 Albuquerque, NM
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,270
- Waiter and Waitress — $38,050
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,190
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,380