Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Dallas, TX
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area earn a median $28,070 a year — 10% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,726 take-home, or $2,060 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Dallas, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,197
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,740
- Medicare (1.45%)$407
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$24,726
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Dallas, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,090 | $11.10 | $20,625 | $1,719 |
| 25th percentile | $26,840 | $12.90 | $23,713 | $1,976 |
| Median (50th) | $28,070 | $13.50 | $24,726 | $2,060 |
| 75th percentile | $31,150 | $14.98 | $27,209 | $2,267 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,240 | $17.42 | $31,299 | $2,608 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,070 buys in Dallas, TX
Prices in Dallas, TX are 3.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $24,726 take-home pay has the buying power of $23,985 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Dallas, TX has 1.3× the national concentration of fast food and counter worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Dallas, TX ranks #216 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 |
| 216 | Dallas, TX | $28,070 | $24,726 | $23,985 |
*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 Texas
- Odessa, TX — $28,390
- College Station, TX — $27,420
- Waco, TX — $27,750
- Longview, TX — $26,730
- Midland, TX — $28,650
- Austin, TX — $29,310
- Beaumont, TX — $26,630
- San Antonio, TX — $27,810
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Dallas, TX?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area is $28,070 a year, or about $13.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $26,840 and $31,150.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Dallas, TX?
On the median $28,070 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $24,726 a year ($2,060 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Dallas, TX a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 10% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 3.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $23,985 would in a typical U.S. city. Dallas, TX ranks #216 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Dallas, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dallas, TX is $1,586 a month ($1,858 for two bedrooms) — 77% 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 Dallas, TX
- Chef and Head Cook — $64,100
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,730
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,370
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,490
- Dishwasher — $31,200
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $31,160
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,740
- Cooks, Fast Food — $30,010
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,890
- Bartender — $24,170
- Waiter and Waitress — $24,160
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $21,050