Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Durham, NC
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $29,170 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,963 take-home, or $2,080 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,320
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,809
- Medicare (1.45%)$423
- North Carolina income tax$655
- Take-home pay$24,963
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,590 | $10.86 | $19,820 | $1,652 |
| 25th percentile | $26,620 | $12.80 | $22,978 | $1,915 |
| Median (50th) | $29,170 | $14.02 | $24,963 | $2,080 |
| 75th percentile | $35,670 | $17.15 | $29,926 | $2,494 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,860 | $18.20 | $31,599 | $2,633 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,170 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $24,963 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,584 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 less concentrated in Durham, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.63), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #266 of 386 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hanford, CA | $42,060 | $34,757 | $34,205 |
| 2 | El Centro, CA | $38,840 | $32,340 | $33,980 |
| 3 | Modesto, CA | $42,630 | $35,184 | $33,796 |
| 4 | Vallejo, CA | $44,110 | $36,295 | $33,458 |
| 5 | Yuba City, CA | $42,040 | $34,742 | $33,331 |
| 6 | Santa Rosa, CA | $43,610 | $35,920 | $33,326 |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $44,570 | $36,640 | $33,182 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $42,860 | $35,357 | $33,146 |
| 266 | Durham, NC | $29,170 | $24,963 | $25,584 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 386 metros →
Fast Food and Counter Worker salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Goldsboro, NC — $28,070
- Greenville, NC — $28,000
- Hickory, NC — $27,580
- Winston, NC — $28,640
- Pinehurst, NC — $27,200
- Rocky Mount, NC — $26,850
- Fayetteville, NC — $28,170
- Greensboro, NC — $28,200
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Durham, NC?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $29,170 a year, or about $14.02 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $26,620 and $35,670.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $29,170 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $24,963 a year ($2,080 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $655 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,584 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #266 of 386 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 for two bedrooms) — 70% 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 Durham, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,150
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,970
- Bartender — $37,110
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,170
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,230
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,560
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,500
- Dishwasher — $33,800
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,440
- Cooks, Fast Food — $29,190
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $27,410