Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Ithaca, NY
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Ithaca, NY metro area earn a median $34,800 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,860 take-home, or $2,405 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Ithaca, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,996
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,158
- Medicare (1.45%)$505
- New York income tax$1,282
- Take-home pay$28,860
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Ithaca, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,240 | $15.50 | $26,941 | $2,245 |
| 25th percentile | $33,810 | $16.25 | $28,118 | $2,343 |
| Median (50th) | $34,800 | $16.73 | $28,860 | $2,405 |
| 75th percentile | $37,310 | $17.94 | $30,741 | $2,562 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,900 | $20.14 | $34,181 | $2,848 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,800 buys in Ithaca, NY
Prices in Ithaca, NY are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.28× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $28,860 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,933 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 Ithaca, NY than nationally (location quotient 0.73), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Ithaca, NY ranks #109 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 |
| 109 | Ithaca, NY | $34,800 | $28,860 | $27,933 |
*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 New York
- Watertown, NY — $32,580
- Buffalo, NY — $34,560
- Binghamton, NY — $33,280
- Utica, NY — $33,080
- Glens Falls, NY — $33,890
- Syracuse, NY — $33,940
- Kingston, NY — $35,460
- Elmira, NY — $32,950
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Ithaca, NY?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Ithaca, NY metro area is $34,800 a year, or about $16.73 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,810 and $37,310.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Ithaca, NY?
On the median $34,800 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $28,860 a year ($2,405 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,282 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Ithaca, NY a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 12% above the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,933 would in a typical U.S. city. Ithaca, NY ranks #109 of 386 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Ithaca, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Ithaca, NY is $1,466 a month ($1,753 for two bedrooms) — 61% 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 Ithaca, NY
- Waiter and Waitress — $46,090