Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Providence, RI
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area earn a median $33,700 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,611 take-home, or $2,384 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Providence, RI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,864
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,089
- Medicare (1.45%)$489
- Rhode Island income tax$647
- Take-home pay$28,611
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.75% state
The Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro spans Rhode Island, Massachusetts. 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 Providence, RI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $26,696 | $2,225 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 | $26,696 | $2,225 |
| Median (50th) | $33,700 | $16.20 | $28,611 | $2,384 |
| 75th percentile | $35,200 | $16.92 | $29,760 | $2,480 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,700 | $17.64 | $30,909 | $2,576 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Rhode Island resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,700 buys in Providence, RI
Prices in Providence, RI are 1.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.04× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $28,611 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,113 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Providence, RI has 1.2× the national concentration of fast food and counter worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Providence, RI ranks #62 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 |
| 62 | Providence, RI | $33,700 | $28,611 | $28,113 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Providence, RI?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area is $33,700 a year, or about $16.20 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,200 and $35,200.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Providence, RI?
On the median $33,700 salary, a single filer living in Rhode Island takes home about $28,611 a year ($2,384 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $647 in Rhode Island taxes in 2026.
Is Providence, RI a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 1.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,113 would in a typical U.S. city. Providence, RI ranks #62 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Providence, RI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Providence, RI is $1,423 a month ($1,774 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 Providence, RI
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,640
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,460
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,250
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,750
- Bartender — $35,680
- Dishwasher — $34,640
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $31,200