Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Chicago, IL
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $34,630 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,436 take-home, or $2,370 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,976
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,147
- Medicare (1.45%)$502
- Illinois income tax$1,569
- Take-home pay$28,436
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. 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 Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| Median (50th) | $34,630 | $16.65 | $28,436 | $2,370 |
| 75th percentile | $36,590 | $17.59 | $29,914 | $2,493 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,610 | $18.56 | $31,437 | $2,620 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,630 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $28,436 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,449 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 Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.87).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #78 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 |
| 78 | Chicago, IL | $34,630 | $28,436 | $27,449 |
*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 Illinois
- Rockford, IL — $31,640
- Peoria, IL — $31,200
- Champaign, IL — $31,300
- Bloomington, IL — $31,200
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Chicago, IL?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $34,630 a year, or about $16.65 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,200 and $36,590.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $34,630 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $28,436 a year ($2,370 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,569 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL 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 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,449 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #78 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 65% 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 Chicago, IL
- Chef and Head Cook — $60,770
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,650
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,930
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,290
- Dishwasher — $36,850
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,670
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,410
- Cooks, Fast Food — $35,360
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $31,720
- Waiter and Waitress — $31,200
- Bartender — $31,200
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $31,200