Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Tuscaloosa, AL
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Tuscaloosa, AL metro area earn a median $24,630 a year — 21% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $20,926 take-home, or $1,744 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Tuscaloosa, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$853
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,527
- Medicare (1.45%)$357
- Alabama income tax$967
- Take-home pay$20,926
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 5.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Tuscaloosa, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,020 | $10.11 | $18,134 | $1,511 |
| 25th percentile | $22,200 | $10.67 | $19,047 | $1,587 |
| Median (50th) | $24,630 | $11.84 | $20,926 | $1,744 |
| 75th percentile | $27,930 | $13.43 | $23,479 | $1,957 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,030 | $16.84 | $28,840 | $2,403 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $24,630 buys in Tuscaloosa, AL
Prices in Tuscaloosa, AL are 12.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 42% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $20,926 take-home pay has the buying power of $23,855 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 Tuscaloosa, AL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Tuscaloosa, AL ranks #219 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 |
| 219 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $24,630 | $20,926 | $23,855 |
*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 Alabama
- Birmingham, AL — $27,020
- Huntsville, AL — $27,180
- Auburn, AL — $24,600
- Mobile, AL — $23,510
- Montgomery, AL — $22,960
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Tuscaloosa, AL?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Tuscaloosa, AL metro area is $24,630 a year, or about $11.84 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $22,200 and $27,930.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Tuscaloosa, AL?
On the median $24,630 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $20,926 a year ($1,744 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $967 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Tuscaloosa, AL a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 21% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 12.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $23,855 would in a typical U.S. city. Tuscaloosa, AL ranks #219 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Tuscaloosa, AL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tuscaloosa, AL is $943 a month ($1,141 for two bedrooms) — 54% of a median fast food and counter worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.