Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Memphis, TN
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median $27,490 a year — 12% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,248 take-home, or $2,021 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Memphis, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,139
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,704
- Medicare (1.45%)$399
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$24,248
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 0.00% state
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro spans Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Memphis, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,310 | $10.73 | $19,982 | $1,665 |
| 25th percentile | $23,770 | $11.43 | $21,185 | $1,765 |
| Median (50th) | $27,490 | $13.22 | $24,248 | $2,021 |
| 75th percentile | $29,230 | $14.05 | $25,666 | $2,139 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,310 | $16.98 | $30,552 | $2,546 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $27,490 buys in Memphis, TN
Prices in Memphis, TN are 7.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 20% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $24,248 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,305 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 Memphis, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.01).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Memphis, TN ranks #127 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 |
| 127 | Memphis, TN | $27,490 | $24,248 | $26,305 |
*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 Tennessee
- Kingsport, TN — $26,890
- Jackson, TN — $26,360
- Nashville, TN — $29,150
- Johnson City, TN — $26,270
- Knoxville, TN — $27,720
- Clarksville, TN — $26,990
- Chattanooga, TN — $27,140
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Memphis, TN?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $27,490 a year, or about $13.22 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $23,770 and $29,230.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Memphis, TN?
On the median $27,490 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $24,248 a year ($2,021 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Memphis, TN 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 7.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,305 would in a typical U.S. city. Memphis, TN ranks #127 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Memphis, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Memphis, TN is $1,137 a month ($1,263 for two bedrooms) — 56% 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 Memphis, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,620
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,340
- Food Preparation Worker — $27,290
- Waiter and Waitress — $24,550