Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Dayton, OH
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro area earn a median $27,680 a year — 11% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,404 take-home, or $2,034 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Dayton, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,158
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,716
- Medicare (1.45%)$401
- Ohio income tax$0
- Take-home pay$24,404
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 0.00% state
Living in Dayton? City residents also pay Dayton’s city income tax — about $692 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $23,712 ($1,976 a month). Choose “Dayton” 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 Dayton, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,440 | $11.27 | $20,913 | $1,743 |
| 25th percentile | $26,840 | $12.90 | $23,713 | $1,976 |
| Median (50th) | $27,680 | $13.31 | $24,404 | $2,034 |
| 75th percentile | $29,480 | $14.17 | $25,839 | $2,153 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,830 | $16.75 | $29,990 | $2,499 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $27,680 buys in Dayton, OH
Prices in Dayton, OH are 7.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 27% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $24,404 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,328 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Dayton, OH 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
Dayton, OH ranks #123 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 |
| 123 | Dayton, OH | $27,680 | $24,404 | $26,328 |
*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
- Columbus, OH — $28,670
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Dayton, OH?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro area is $27,680 a year, or about $13.31 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $26,840 and $29,480.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Dayton, OH?
On the median $27,680 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $24,404 a year ($2,034 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Dayton, OH a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 11% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 7.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,328 would in a typical U.S. city. Dayton, OH ranks #123 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Dayton, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dayton, OH is $1,009 a month ($1,273 for two bedrooms) — 50% 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 Dayton, OH
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,680
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,600
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,700