Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Boulder, CO
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Boulder, CO metro area earn a median $36,190 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,375 take-home, or $2,531 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Boulder, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,163
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,244
- Medicare (1.45%)$525
- Colorado income tax$884
- Take-home pay$30,375
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Boulder, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,360 | $16.04 | $28,225 | $2,352 |
| 25th percentile | $35,300 | $16.97 | $29,699 | $2,475 |
| Median (50th) | $36,190 | $17.40 | $30,375 | $2,531 |
| 75th percentile | $37,930 | $18.24 | $31,696 | $2,641 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,460 | $21.86 | $37,415 | $3,118 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,190 buys in Boulder, CO
Prices in Boulder, CO are 5.2% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.57× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $30,375 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,873 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 Boulder, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.02).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Boulder, CO ranks #45 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 |
| 45 | Boulder, CO | $36,190 | $30,375 | $28,873 |
*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 Colorado
- Denver, CO — $37,070
- Fort Collins, CO — $34,850
- Colorado Springs, CO — $34,420
- Grand Junction, CO — $31,510
- Greeley, CO — $33,030
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Boulder, CO?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Boulder, CO metro area is $36,190 a year, or about $17.40 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,300 and $37,930.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Boulder, CO?
On the median $36,190 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $30,375 a year ($2,531 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $884 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Boulder, CO 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 5.2% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,873 would in a typical U.S. city. Boulder, CO ranks #45 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Boulder, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boulder, CO is $1,795 a month ($2,124 for two bedrooms) — 71% 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 Boulder, CO
- Waiter and Waitress — $49,870