Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Washington, DC
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $34,600 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,071 take-home, or $2,423 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,972
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,145
- Medicare (1.45%)$502
- District of Columbia income tax$910
- Take-home pay$29,071
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. 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 Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,460 | $14.64 | $25,993 | $2,166 |
| 25th percentile | $31,830 | $15.30 | $27,012 | $2,251 |
| Median (50th) | $34,600 | $16.63 | $29,071 | $2,423 |
| 75th percentile | $37,300 | $17.93 | $31,079 | $2,590 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,490 | $20.43 | $34,937 | $2,911 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,600 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% 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 $29,071 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,699 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 less concentrated in Washington, DC than nationally (location quotient 0.78), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #102 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 |
| 102 | Washington, DC | $34,600 | $29,071 | $26,699 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Washington, DC?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $34,600 a year, or about $16.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,830 and $37,300.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $34,600 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $29,071 a year ($2,423 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $910 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,699 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #102 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 82% 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 Washington, DC
- Chef and Head Cook — $74,900
- Bartender — $48,030
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $47,580
- Waiter and Waitress — $46,040
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $44,880
- Cooks, Restaurant — $42,920
- Cooks, Short Order — $39,650
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,630
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $37,540
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $37,260
- Dishwasher — $37,010
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $36,360