Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Houston, TX
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $27,570 a year — 12% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,314 take-home, or $2,026 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,147
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,709
- Medicare (1.45%)$400
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$24,314
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,630 | $10.40 | $19,422 | $1,619 |
| 25th percentile | $22,720 | $10.92 | $20,320 | $1,693 |
| Median (50th) | $27,570 | $13.25 | $24,314 | $2,026 |
| 75th percentile | $30,370 | $14.60 | $26,582 | $2,215 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,210 | $16.93 | $30,471 | $2,539 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $27,570 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $24,314 take-home pay has the buying power of $24,652 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Houston, TX has 1.3× 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
Houston, TX ranks #204 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 |
| 204 | Houston, TX | $27,570 | $24,314 | $24,652 |
*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 Texas
- Odessa, TX — $28,390
- College Station, TX — $27,420
- Waco, TX — $27,750
- Longview, TX — $26,730
- Midland, TX — $28,650
- Austin, TX — $29,310
- Beaumont, TX — $26,630
- San Antonio, TX — $27,810
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Houston, TX?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $27,570 a year, or about $13.25 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $22,720 and $30,370.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $27,570 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $24,314 a year ($2,026 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 12% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $24,652 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #204 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 65% 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 Houston, TX
- Chef and Head Cook — $45,400
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,410
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,660
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,050
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,020
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $29,050
- Dishwasher — $28,600
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $26,730
- Cooks, Fast Food — $23,090
- Bartender — $22,770
- Waiter and Waitress — $22,080
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $21,850