Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Fayetteville, AR
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro area earn a median $27,170 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $23,138 take-home, or $1,928 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Fayetteville, AR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,107
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,685
- Medicare (1.45%)$394
- Arkansas income tax$847
- Take-home pay$23,138
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.90% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Fayetteville, AR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,470 | $11.28 | $20,235 | $1,686 |
| 25th percentile | $24,620 | $11.84 | $21,137 | $1,761 |
| Median (50th) | $27,170 | $13.06 | $23,138 | $1,928 |
| 75th percentile | $29,030 | $13.96 | $24,586 | $2,049 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,020 | $16.84 | $29,166 | $2,430 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arkansas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $27,170 buys in Fayetteville, AR
Prices in Fayetteville, AR are 8.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 23% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $23,138 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,328 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Fayetteville, AR has 1.2× 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
Fayetteville, AR ranks #181 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 |
| 181 | Fayetteville, AR | $27,170 | $23,138 | $25,328 |
*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 Arkansas
- Little Rock, AR — $27,470
- Fort Smith, AR — $23,760
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Fayetteville, AR?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro area is $27,170 a year, or about $13.06 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $24,620 and $29,030.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Fayetteville, AR?
On the median $27,170 salary, a single filer living in Arkansas takes home about $23,138 a year ($1,928 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $847 in Arkansas taxes in 2026.
Is Fayetteville, AR a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 8.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,328 would in a typical U.S. city. Fayetteville, AR ranks #181 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Fayetteville, AR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Fayetteville, AR is $1,115 a month ($1,347 for two bedrooms) — 58% 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 Fayetteville, AR
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,080
- Cooks, Restaurant — $33,730
- Waiter and Waitress — $26,210