Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Seattle, WA
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $39,150 a year — 25% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $33,637 take-home, or $2,803 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,518
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,427
- Medicare (1.45%)$568
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$33,637
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,580 | $17.11 | $30,769 | $2,564 |
| 25th percentile | $36,690 | $17.64 | $31,660 | $2,638 |
| Median (50th) | $39,150 | $18.82 | $33,637 | $2,803 |
| 75th percentile | $45,250 | $21.75 | $38,538 | $3,212 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,980 | $24.51 | $43,142 | $3,595 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,150 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $33,637 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,267 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 Seattle, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #27 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 |
| 27 | Seattle, WA | $39,150 | $33,637 | $30,267 |
*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 Washington
- Yakima, WA — $35,830
- Kennewick, WA — $36,410
- Bellingham, WA — $37,030
- Spokane, WA — $35,780
- Bremerton, WA — $37,080
- Olympia, WA — $36,110
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Seattle, WA?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $39,150 a year, or about $18.82 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,690 and $45,250.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $39,150 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $33,637 a year ($2,803 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 25% above the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,267 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #27 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 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 Seattle, WA
- Chef and Head Cook — $80,330
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $61,610
- Bartender — $58,180
- Waiter and Waitress — $57,280
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $51,530
- Cooks, Restaurant — $47,730
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $45,120
- Cooks, Fast Food — $44,030
- Food Preparation Worker — $43,830
- Dishwasher — $42,750
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $40,640
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $38,430