Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Virginia Beach, VA
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median $28,780 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,464 take-home, or $2,039 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Virginia Beach, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,274
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,784
- Medicare (1.45%)$417
- Virginia income tax$841
- Take-home pay$24,464
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro spans Virginia, North Carolina. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Virginia Beach, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,420 | $13.18 | $23,428 | $1,952 |
| 25th percentile | $28,120 | $13.52 | $23,964 | $1,997 |
| Median (50th) | $28,780 | $13.84 | $24,464 | $2,039 |
| 75th percentile | $31,640 | $15.21 | $26,598 | $2,216 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,360 | $17.00 | $29,373 | $2,448 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,780 buys in Virginia Beach, VA
Prices in Virginia Beach, VA are 2.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $24,464 take-home pay has the buying power of $24,978 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 Virginia Beach, VA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.19).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Virginia Beach, VA ranks #194 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 |
| 194 | Virginia Beach, VA | $28,780 | $24,464 | $24,978 |
*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 Virginia
- Lynchburg, VA — $28,220
- Harrisonburg, VA — $29,240
- Charlottesville, VA — $30,150
- Richmond, VA — $29,500
- Roanoke, VA — $27,720
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Virginia Beach, VA?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $28,780 a year, or about $13.84 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,120 and $31,640.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Virginia Beach, VA?
On the median $28,780 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $24,464 a year ($2,039 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $841 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Virginia Beach, VA a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 2.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $24,978 would in a typical U.S. city. Virginia Beach, VA ranks #194 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Virginia Beach, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Virginia Beach, VA is $1,508 a month ($1,708 for two bedrooms) — 74% 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 Virginia Beach, VA
- Bartender — $46,700
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $41,800
- Waiter and Waitress — $39,020
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,440
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,280
- Food Preparation Worker — $32,580
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,330
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,670
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,380