Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Charleston, SC
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median $28,500 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,527 take-home, or $2,044 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Charleston, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,240
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,767
- Medicare (1.45%)$413
- South Carolina income tax$553
- Take-home pay$24,527
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Charleston, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,590 | $10.86 | $19,895 | $1,658 |
| 25th percentile | $25,590 | $12.30 | $22,275 | $1,856 |
| Median (50th) | $28,500 | $13.70 | $24,527 | $2,044 |
| 75th percentile | $34,130 | $16.41 | $28,713 | $2,393 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,690 | $17.64 | $30,616 | $2,551 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,500 buys in Charleston, SC
Prices in Charleston, SC are 1.0% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.20× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $24,527 take-home pay has the buying power of $24,293 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 Charleston, SC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Charleston, SC ranks #213 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 |
| 213 | Charleston, SC | $28,500 | $24,527 | $24,293 |
*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 South Carolina
- Spartanburg, SC — $27,390
- Hilton Head Island, SC — $29,550
- Greenville, SC — $27,850
- Myrtle Beach, SC — $27,600
- Columbia, SC — $27,170
- Florence, SC — $24,590
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Charleston, SC?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $28,500 a year, or about $13.70 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $25,590 and $34,130.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Charleston, SC?
On the median $28,500 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $24,527 a year ($2,044 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $553 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charleston, SC a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 9% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 1.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $24,293 would in a typical U.S. city. Charleston, SC ranks #213 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Charleston, SC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charleston, SC is $1,630 a month ($1,787 for two bedrooms) — 80% 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 Charleston, SC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $43,620
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,710
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,220
- Bartender — $19,630
- Waiter and Waitress — $19,340