Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Duluth, MN
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Duluth, MN-WI metro area earn a median $29,260 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,944 take-home, or $2,079 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Duluth, MN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,331
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,814
- Medicare (1.45%)$424
- Minnesota income tax$747
- Take-home pay$24,944
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.35% state
The Duluth, MN-WI metro spans Minnesota, Wisconsin. 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 Duluth, MN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,250 | $11.66 | $21,101 | $1,758 |
| 25th percentile | $28,280 | $13.60 | $24,204 | $2,017 |
| Median (50th) | $29,260 | $14.07 | $24,944 | $2,079 |
| 75th percentile | $34,230 | $16.46 | $28,671 | $2,389 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,980 | $17.30 | $29,984 | $2,499 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Minnesota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,260 buys in Duluth, MN
Prices in Duluth, MN are 11.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 29% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $24,944 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,100 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 Duluth, MN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Duluth, MN ranks #63 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 |
| 63 | Duluth, MN | $29,260 | $24,944 | $28,100 |
*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 Minnesota
- Rochester, MN — $31,190
- Minneapolis, MN — $33,040
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Duluth, MN?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Duluth, MN-WI metro area is $29,260 a year, or about $14.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,280 and $34,230.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Duluth, MN?
On the median $29,260 salary, a single filer living in Minnesota takes home about $24,944 a year ($2,079 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $747 in Minnesota taxes in 2026.
Is Duluth, MN a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 11.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,100 would in a typical U.S. city. Duluth, MN ranks #63 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Duluth, MN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Duluth, MN is $978 a month ($1,232 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median fast food and counter worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.