Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Denver, CO
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $37,070 a year — 19% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,043 take-home, or $2,587 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,268
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,298
- Medicare (1.45%)$538
- Colorado income tax$923
- Take-home pay$31,043
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,230 | $15.98 | $28,127 | $2,344 |
| 25th percentile | $35,980 | $17.30 | $30,215 | $2,518 |
| Median (50th) | $37,070 | $17.82 | $31,043 | $2,587 |
| 75th percentile | $37,940 | $18.24 | $31,704 | $2,642 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,420 | $21.36 | $36,625 | $3,052 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,070 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $31,043 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,346 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 Denver, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.07).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #38 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 |
| 38 | Denver, CO | $37,070 | $31,043 | $29,346 |
*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 Colorado
- Fort Collins, CO — $34,850
- Boulder, CO — $36,190
- Colorado Springs, CO — $34,420
- Grand Junction, CO — $31,510
- Greeley, CO — $33,030
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Denver, CO?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $37,070 a year, or about $17.82 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,980 and $37,940.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $37,070 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $31,043 a year ($2,587 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $923 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 19% above the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,346 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #38 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 68% 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 Denver, CO
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $52,520
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $45,070
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,370
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $39,850
- Waiter and Waitress — $39,650
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,470
- Dishwasher — $38,710
- Cooks, Fast Food — $38,530
- Bartender — $37,180
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $36,880
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $36,340