Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Columbus, OH
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Columbus, OH metro area earn a median $28,670 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,210 take-home, or $2,101 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Columbus, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,260
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,778
- Medicare (1.45%)$416
- Ohio income tax$6
- Take-home pay$25,210
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Columbus? City residents also pay Columbus’s city income tax — about $717 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $24,494 ($2,041 a month). Choose “Columbus” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Columbus, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,580 | $11.34 | $21,028 | $1,752 |
| 25th percentile | $28,030 | $13.48 | $24,693 | $2,058 |
| Median (50th) | $28,670 | $13.78 | $25,210 | $2,101 |
| 75th percentile | $30,550 | $14.69 | $26,669 | $2,222 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,210 | $16.93 | $30,285 | $2,524 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,670 buys in Columbus, OH
Prices in Columbus, OH are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $25,210 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,407 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 Columbus, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Columbus, OH ranks #116 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 |
| 116 | Columbus, OH | $28,670 | $25,210 | $26,407 |
*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 Ohio
- Canton, OH — $27,760
- Cincinnati, OH — $29,720
- Youngstown, OH — $26,950
- Akron, OH — $28,690
- Cleveland, OH — $28,750
- Toledo, OH — $27,570
- Dayton, OH — $27,680
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Columbus, OH?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Columbus, OH metro area is $28,670 a year, or about $13.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,030 and $30,550.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Columbus, OH?
On the median $28,670 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $25,210 a year ($2,101 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, OH a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,407 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, OH ranks #116 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Columbus, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbus, OH is $1,179 a month ($1,416 for two bedrooms) — 56% 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 Columbus, OH
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,100
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,790
- Waiter and Waitress — $37,490
- Bartender — $37,000
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,930
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,590
- Dishwasher — $33,690
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $32,250
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $30,000
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,650