Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Boston, MA
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $36,290 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,745 take-home, or $2,479 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,175
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,250
- Medicare (1.45%)$526
- Massachusetts income tax$1,595
- Take-home pay$29,745
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,520 | $15.15 | $26,150 | $2,179 |
| 25th percentile | $34,210 | $16.45 | $28,177 | $2,348 |
| Median (50th) | $36,290 | $17.45 | $29,745 | $2,479 |
| 75th percentile | $37,260 | $17.91 | $30,475 | $2,540 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,440 | $18.96 | $32,118 | $2,677 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,290 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $29,745 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,474 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 Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #76 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 |
| 76 | Boston, MA | $36,290 | $29,745 | $27,474 |
*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 Massachusetts
- Barnstable Town, MA — $36,100
- Springfield, MA — $34,130
- Worcester, MA — $34,610
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Boston, MA?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $36,290 a year, or about $17.45 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,210 and $37,260.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $36,290 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $29,745 a year ($2,479 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,595 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,474 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #76 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 92% 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 Boston, MA
- Chef and Head Cook — $72,470
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $48,530
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $47,090
- Cooks, Restaurant — $45,830
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,660
- Cooks, Short Order — $39,600
- Waiter and Waitress — $39,270
- Bartender — $37,760
- Dishwasher — $37,750
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $37,330
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $35,140
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,780