Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $28,440 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,548 take-home, or $2,046 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,234
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,763
- Medicare (1.45%)$412
- Wisconsin income tax$482
- Take-home pay$24,548
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.50% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,530 | $10.83 | $19,888 | $1,657 |
| 25th percentile | $25,810 | $12.41 | $22,474 | $1,873 |
| Median (50th) | $28,440 | $13.67 | $24,548 | $2,046 |
| 75th percentile | $34,360 | $16.52 | $29,057 | $2,421 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,850 | $17.72 | $30,949 | $2,579 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,440 buys in Milwaukee, WI
Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 3% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $24,548 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,324 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 Milwaukee, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #182 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 |
| 182 | Milwaukee, WI | $28,440 | $24,548 | $25,324 |
*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 Wisconsin
- Appleton, WI — $29,010
- Green Bay, WI — $28,640
- Madison, WI — $29,820
- Eau Claire, WI — $28,070
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Milwaukee, WI?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $28,440 a year, or about $13.67 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $25,810 and $34,360.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $28,440 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $24,548 a year ($2,046 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $482 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 9% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,324 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #182 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Milwaukee, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Milwaukee, WI is $1,119 a month ($1,338 for two bedrooms) — 55% 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 Milwaukee, WI
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $40,080
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,980
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,180
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,470
- Waiter and Waitress — $30,330
- Bartender — $25,970