Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Lakeland, FL
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area earn a median $28,050 a year — 10% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,709 take-home, or $2,059 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Lakeland, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,195
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,739
- Medicare (1.45%)$407
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$24,709
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 Lakeland, FL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,060 | $13.01 | $23,894 | $1,991 |
| 25th percentile | $27,490 | $13.22 | $24,248 | $2,021 |
| Median (50th) | $28,050 | $13.49 | $24,709 | $2,059 |
| 75th percentile | $29,500 | $14.18 | $25,883 | $2,157 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,630 | $16.65 | $30,005 | $2,500 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,050 buys in Lakeland, FL
Prices in Lakeland, FL are 2.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 4% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $24,709 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,436 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 Lakeland, FL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.12).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Lakeland, FL ranks #174 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 |
| 174 | Lakeland, FL | $28,050 | $24,709 | $25,436 |
*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 Florida
- Naples, FL — $33,830
- Crestview, FL — $29,220
- Tallahassee, FL — $27,600
- Ocala, FL — $27,880
- Gainesville, FL — $28,280
- North Port, FL — $30,000
- Pensacola, FL — $28,360
- Port St. Lucie, FL — $29,130
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Lakeland, FL?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area is $28,050 a year, or about $13.49 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,490 and $29,500.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Lakeland, FL?
On the median $28,050 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $24,709 a year ($2,059 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Lakeland, FL a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 10% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 2.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,436 would in a typical U.S. city. Lakeland, FL ranks #174 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Lakeland, FL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lakeland, FL is $1,230 a month ($1,497 for two bedrooms) — 60% 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 Lakeland, FL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $43,220
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,270