Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Reading, PA
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Reading, PA metro area earn a median $28,090 a year — 10% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $23,880 take-home, or $1,990 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Reading, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,199
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,742
- Medicare (1.45%)$407
- Pennsylvania income tax$862
- Take-home pay$23,880
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.07% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Reading, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,130 | $10.64 | $19,155 | $1,596 |
| 25th percentile | $26,270 | $12.63 | $22,437 | $1,870 |
| Median (50th) | $28,090 | $13.50 | $23,880 | $1,990 |
| 75th percentile | $30,110 | $14.48 | $25,449 | $2,121 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,790 | $17.21 | $29,839 | $2,487 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,090 buys in Reading, PA
Prices in Reading, PA are 2.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 15% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $23,880 take-home pay has the buying power of $24,603 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 Reading, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Reading, PA ranks #206 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 |
| 206 | Reading, PA | $28,090 | $23,880 | $24,603 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia, PA — $32,220
- Pittsburgh, PA — $28,250
- Scranton, PA — $27,520
- Erie, PA — $26,540
- York, PA — $27,920
- Lancaster, PA — $28,580
- Allentown, PA — $29,090
- Harrisburg, PA — $28,070
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Reading, PA?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Reading, PA metro area is $28,090 a year, or about $13.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $26,270 and $30,110.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Reading, PA?
On the median $28,090 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $23,880 a year ($1,990 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $862 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Reading, PA 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 $24,603 would in a typical U.S. city. Reading, PA ranks #206 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Reading, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Reading, PA is $1,237 a month ($1,575 for two bedrooms) — 62% of a median fast food and counter worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.