Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Buffalo, NY
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $34,560 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,680 take-home, or $2,390 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Buffalo, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,967
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,143
- Medicare (1.45%)$501
- New York income tax$1,269
- Take-home pay$28,680
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,240 | $15.50 | $26,941 | $2,245 |
| 25th percentile | $32,920 | $15.83 | $27,451 | $2,288 |
| Median (50th) | $34,560 | $16.62 | $28,680 | $2,390 |
| 75th percentile | $35,350 | $17.00 | $29,272 | $2,439 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,910 | $17.75 | $30,441 | $2,537 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,560 buys in Buffalo, NY
Prices in Buffalo, NY are 4.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 19% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $28,680 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,923 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 Buffalo, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.07).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Buffalo, NY ranks #31 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 |
| 31 | Buffalo, NY | $34,560 | $28,680 | $29,923 |
*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 York
- Binghamton, NY — $33,280
- Syracuse, NY — $33,940
- Rochester, NY — $33,430
- Albany, NY — $34,060
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $35,320
- New York, NY — $35,420
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Buffalo, NY?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $34,560 a year, or about $16.62 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $32,920 and $35,350.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $34,560 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $28,680 a year ($2,390 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,269 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,923 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #31 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Buffalo, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Buffalo, NY is $1,139 a month ($1,343 for two bedrooms) — 48% 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 Buffalo, NY
- Bartender — $46,920
- Waiter and Waitress — $46,580
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,720
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,060
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $35,140
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,700