Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Baton Rouge, LA
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Baton Rouge, LA metro area earn a median $23,650 a year — 24% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $20,763 take-home, or $1,730 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Baton Rouge, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$755
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,466
- Medicare (1.45%)$343
- Louisiana income tax$323
- Take-home pay$20,763
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Baton Rouge, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,270 | $10.23 | $18,874 | $1,573 |
| 25th percentile | $22,500 | $10.82 | $19,850 | $1,654 |
| Median (50th) | $23,650 | $11.37 | $20,763 | $1,730 |
| 75th percentile | $26,750 | $12.86 | $23,222 | $1,935 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $33,460 | $16.09 | $28,448 | $2,371 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $23,650 buys in Baton Rouge, LA
Prices in Baton Rouge, LA are 9.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 26% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $20,763 take-home pay has the buying power of $22,871 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 Baton Rouge, LA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.84).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Baton Rouge, LA ranks #231 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 |
| 231 | Baton Rouge, LA | $23,650 | $20,763 | $22,871 |
*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 Louisiana
- New Orleans, LA — $25,470
- Shreveport, LA — $22,460
- Lake Charles, LA — $22,500
- Lafayette, LA — $22,320
- Slidell, LA — $23,380
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Baton Rouge, LA?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Baton Rouge, LA metro area is $23,650 a year, or about $11.37 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $22,500 and $26,750.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Baton Rouge, LA?
On the median $23,650 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $20,763 a year ($1,730 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $323 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is Baton Rouge, LA a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 24% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 9.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $22,871 would in a typical U.S. city. Baton Rouge, LA ranks #231 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Baton Rouge, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Baton Rouge, LA is $1,048 a month ($1,187 for two bedrooms) — 61% 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 Baton Rouge, LA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,380
- Cooks, Restaurant — $29,910
- Food Preparation Worker — $24,450
- Waiter and Waitress — $15,080