Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in St. Cloud, MN
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the St. Cloud, MN metro area earn a median $29,680 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,259 take-home, or $2,105 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in St. Cloud, MN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,382
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,840
- Medicare (1.45%)$430
- Minnesota income tax$769
- Take-home pay$25,259
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.35% state
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in St. Cloud, MN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,440 | $13.19 | $23,557 | $1,963 |
| 25th percentile | $28,650 | $13.77 | $24,486 | $2,041 |
| Median (50th) | $29,680 | $14.27 | $25,259 | $2,105 |
| 75th percentile | $35,000 | $16.83 | $29,249 | $2,437 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,170 | $17.87 | $30,876 | $2,573 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Minnesota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,680 buys in St. Cloud, MN
Prices in St. Cloud, MN are 12.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 35% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $25,259 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,823 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 St. Cloud, MN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.82).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
St. Cloud, MN ranks #81 of 386 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hanford, CA | $42,060 | $34,757 | $34,205 |
| 2 | El Centro, CA | $38,840 | $32,340 | $33,980 |
| 3 | Modesto, CA | $42,630 | $35,184 | $33,796 |
| 4 | Vallejo, CA | $44,110 | $36,295 | $33,458 |
| 5 | Yuba City, CA | $42,040 | $34,742 | $33,331 |
| 6 | Santa Rosa, CA | $43,610 | $35,920 | $33,326 |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $44,570 | $36,640 | $33,182 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $42,860 | $35,357 | $33,146 |
| 81 | St. Cloud, MN | $29,680 | $25,259 | $28,823 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 386 metros →
Fast Food and Counter Worker salaries elsewhere in Minnesota
- Rochester, MN — $31,190
- Duluth, MN — $29,260
- Mankato, MN — $30,000
- Minneapolis, MN — $33,040
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in St. Cloud, MN?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the St. Cloud, MN metro area is $29,680 a year, or about $14.27 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,650 and $35,000.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in St. Cloud, MN?
On the median $29,680 salary, a single filer living in Minnesota takes home about $25,259 a year ($2,105 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $769 in Minnesota taxes in 2026.
Is St. Cloud, MN 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 12.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,823 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Cloud, MN ranks #81 of 386 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in St. Cloud, MN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Cloud, MN is $919 a month ($1,206 for two bedrooms) — 44% 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 St. Cloud, MN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $41,600
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,270
- Food Preparation Worker — $33,540
- Bartender — $25,970
- Waiter and Waitress — $23,520