Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in San Jose, CA
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $44,570 a year — 43% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,640 take-home, or $3,053 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,168
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,763
- Medicare (1.45%)$646
- California income tax$772
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$579
- Take-home pay$36,640
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,860 | $18.20 | $31,605 | $2,634 |
| 25th percentile | $39,420 | $18.95 | $32,775 | $2,731 |
| Median (50th) | $44,570 | $21.43 | $36,640 | $3,053 |
| 75th percentile | $48,700 | $23.41 | $39,706 | $3,309 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,220 | $26.07 | $43,738 | $3,645 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $44,570 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $36,640 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,182 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 San Jose, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.82).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #4 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 |
*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 California
- Modesto, CA — $42,630
- Vallejo, CA — $44,110
- Santa Rosa, CA — $43,610
- Sacramento, CA — $42,860
- Stockton, CA — $41,740
- Riverside, CA — $42,280
- Salinas, CA — $43,260
- Santa Maria, CA — $42,940
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in San Jose, CA?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $44,570 a year, or about $21.43 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,420 and $48,700.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $44,570 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $36,640 a year ($3,053 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,352 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 43% above the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,182 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #4 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 97% 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 San Jose, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $55,520
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $51,880
- Cooks, Fast Food — $47,220
- Cooks, Restaurant — $47,170
- Food Preparation Worker — $45,580
- Dishwasher — $43,960
- Bartender — $42,270
- Waiter and Waitress — $41,920
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $41,710