Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Atlanta, GA
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $27,780 a year — 11% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $23,668 take-home, or $1,972 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,168
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,722
- Medicare (1.45%)$403
- Georgia income tax$819
- Take-home pay$23,668
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 5.19% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,830 | $10.50 | $19,077 | $1,590 |
| 25th percentile | $23,020 | $11.07 | $19,995 | $1,666 |
| Median (50th) | $27,780 | $13.36 | $23,668 | $1,972 |
| 75th percentile | $33,050 | $15.89 | $27,643 | $2,304 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,030 | $17.80 | $30,635 | $2,553 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $27,780 buys in Atlanta, GA
Prices in Atlanta, GA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.11× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $23,668 take-home pay has the buying power of $23,654 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 Atlanta, GA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.13).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #224 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 |
| 224 | Atlanta, GA | $27,780 | $23,668 | $23,654 |
*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 Georgia
- Augusta, GA — $26,620
- Savannah, GA — $27,460
- Macon, GA — $25,000
- Warner Robins, GA — $26,610
- Gainesville, GA — $26,690
- Valdosta, GA — $23,100
- Columbus, GA — $23,300
- Athens, GA — $24,220
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Atlanta, GA?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $27,780 a year, or about $13.36 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $23,020 and $33,050.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $27,780 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $23,668 a year ($1,972 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $819 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 11% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $23,654 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #224 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Atlanta, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is $1,646 a month ($1,806 for two bedrooms) — 83% 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 Atlanta, GA
- Chef and Head Cook — $74,660
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,240
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,230
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,080
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,090
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $33,560
- Dishwasher — $31,780
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,470
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,560
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,940
- Bartender — $23,350
- Waiter and Waitress — $18,460