Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Madison, WI
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median $29,820 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,609 take-home, or $2,134 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Madison, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,398
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,849
- Medicare (1.45%)$432
- Wisconsin income tax$531
- Take-home pay$25,609
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Madison, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,180 | $11.14 | $20,401 | $1,700 |
| 25th percentile | $28,280 | $13.60 | $24,422 | $2,035 |
| Median (50th) | $29,820 | $14.34 | $25,609 | $2,134 |
| 75th percentile | $35,310 | $16.98 | $29,779 | $2,482 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,940 | $17.76 | $31,017 | $2,585 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,820 buys in Madison, WI
Prices in Madison, WI are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $25,609 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,323 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 Madison, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Madison, WI ranks #124 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 |
| 124 | Madison, WI | $29,820 | $25,609 | $26,323 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 241 metros →
Fast Food and Counter Worker salaries elsewhere in Wisconsin
- Appleton, WI — $29,010
- Green Bay, WI — $28,640
- Eau Claire, WI — $28,070
- Milwaukee, WI — $28,440
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Madison, WI?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Madison, WI metro area is $29,820 a year, or about $14.34 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,280 and $35,310.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Madison, WI?
On the median $29,820 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $25,609 a year ($2,134 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $531 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Madison, WI a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,323 would in a typical U.S. city. Madison, WI ranks #124 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Madison, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Madison, WI is $1,377 a month ($1,600 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 Madison, WI
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,060
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,440
- Waiter and Waitress — $30,910
- Bartender — $23,210