Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Tucson, AZ
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Tucson, AZ metro area earn a median $31,690 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $27,059 take-home, or $2,255 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Tucson, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,623
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,965
- Medicare (1.45%)$460
- Arizona income tax$584
- Take-home pay$27,059
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Tucson, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,600 | $14.71 | $26,211 | $2,184 |
| 25th percentile | $30,860 | $14.84 | $26,413 | $2,201 |
| Median (50th) | $31,690 | $15.24 | $27,059 | $2,255 |
| 75th percentile | $34,840 | $16.75 | $29,512 | $2,459 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,130 | $20.25 | $35,187 | $2,932 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,690 buys in Tucson, AZ
Prices in Tucson, AZ are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 8% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $27,059 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,926 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 Tucson, AZ as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Tucson, AZ ranks #66 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 |
| 66 | Tucson, AZ | $31,690 | $27,059 | $27,926 |
*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 Arizona
- Flagstaff, AZ — $33,690
- Phoenix, AZ — $34,540
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Tucson, AZ?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Tucson, AZ metro area is $31,690 a year, or about $15.24 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,860 and $34,840.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Tucson, AZ?
On the median $31,690 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $27,059 a year ($2,255 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $584 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Tucson, AZ a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,926 would in a typical U.S. city. Tucson, AZ ranks #66 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Tucson, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tucson, AZ is $1,081 a month ($1,402 for two bedrooms) — 48% 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 Tucson, AZ
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,200
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,500
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,490
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,260