Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Elkhart, IN
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Elkhart-Goshen, IN metro area earn a median $28,300 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,110 take-home, or $2,009 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Elkhart, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,220
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,755
- Medicare (1.45%)$410
- Indiana income tax$805
- Take-home pay$24,110
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 2.95% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Elkhart, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,970 | $10.56 | $19,084 | $1,590 |
| 25th percentile | $23,720 | $11.40 | $20,473 | $1,706 |
| Median (50th) | $28,300 | $13.61 | $24,110 | $2,009 |
| 75th percentile | $31,830 | $15.30 | $26,846 | $2,237 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,690 | $17.16 | $29,834 | $2,486 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,300 buys in Elkhart, IN
Prices in Elkhart, IN are 9.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 36% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $24,110 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,692 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 Elkhart, IN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Elkhart, IN ranks #103 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 |
| 103 | Elkhart, IN | $28,300 | $24,110 | $26,692 |
*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 Indiana
- Terre Haute, IN — $27,020
- Fort Wayne, IN — $28,360
- Evansville, IN — $27,930
- South Bend, IN — $28,140
- Indianapolis, IN — $29,040
- Lafayette, IN — $28,230
- Bloomington, IN — $28,230
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Elkhart, IN?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Elkhart-Goshen, IN metro area is $28,300 a year, or about $13.61 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $23,720 and $31,830.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Elkhart, IN?
On the median $28,300 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $24,110 a year ($2,009 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $805 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Elkhart, IN a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 9% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 9.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,692 would in a typical U.S. city. Elkhart, IN ranks #103 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Elkhart, IN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Elkhart, IN is $992 a month ($1,183 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median fast food and counter worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.