Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Richmond, VA
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median $29,500 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,001 take-home, or $2,083 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Richmond, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,360
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,829
- Medicare (1.45%)$428
- Virginia income tax$882
- Take-home pay$25,001
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Richmond, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,600 | $13.27 | $23,566 | $1,964 |
| 25th percentile | $28,370 | $13.64 | $24,156 | $2,013 |
| Median (50th) | $29,500 | $14.18 | $25,001 | $2,083 |
| 75th percentile | $33,880 | $16.29 | $28,269 | $2,356 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,980 | $17.30 | $29,835 | $2,486 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,500 buys in Richmond, VA
Prices in Richmond, VA are 2.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $25,001 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,548 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 Richmond, VA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Richmond, VA ranks #167 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 |
| 167 | Richmond, VA | $29,500 | $25,001 | $25,548 |
*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 Virginia
- Lynchburg, VA — $28,220
- Harrisonburg, VA — $29,240
- Charlottesville, VA — $30,150
- Roanoke, VA — $27,720
- Virginia Beach, VA — $28,780
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Richmond, VA?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Richmond, VA metro area is $29,500 a year, or about $14.18 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,370 and $33,880.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Richmond, VA?
On the median $29,500 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $25,001 a year ($2,083 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $882 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Richmond, VA a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 2.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,548 would in a typical U.S. city. Richmond, VA ranks #167 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Richmond, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Richmond, VA is $1,505 a month ($1,653 for two bedrooms) — 72% 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 Richmond, VA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,580
- Waiter and Waitress — $38,470
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,080
- Food Preparation Worker — $33,650