Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Wheeling, WV
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area earn a median $26,150 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $22,504 take-home, or $1,875 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Wheeling, WV. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,005
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,621
- Medicare (1.45%)$379
- West Virginia income tax$641
- Take-home pay$22,504
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 2.96% state
The Wheeling, WV-OH metro spans West Virginia, Ohio. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Wheeling, WV
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,260 | $10.70 | $19,415 | $1,618 |
| 25th percentile | $23,050 | $11.08 | $20,043 | $1,670 |
| Median (50th) | $26,150 | $12.57 | $22,504 | $1,875 |
| 75th percentile | $27,780 | $13.36 | $23,795 | $1,983 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $30,800 | $14.81 | $26,135 | $2,178 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, West Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $26,150 buys in Wheeling, WV
Prices in Wheeling, WV are 11.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 49% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $22,504 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,479 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 Wheeling, WV as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Wheeling, WV ranks #276 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 |
| 276 | Wheeling, WV | $26,150 | $22,504 | $25,479 |
*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 West Virginia
- Weirton, WV — $26,820
- Beckley, WV — $25,950
- Huntington, WV — $23,500
- Morgantown, WV — $24,230
- Charleston, WV — $22,380
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Wheeling, WV?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area is $26,150 a year, or about $12.57 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $23,050 and $27,780.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Wheeling, WV?
On the median $26,150 salary, a single filer living in West Virginia takes home about $22,504 a year ($1,875 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $641 in West Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Wheeling, WV a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 11.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,479 would in a typical U.S. city. Wheeling, WV ranks #276 of 386 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Wheeling, WV?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Wheeling, WV is $816 a month ($991 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 Wheeling, WV
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $34,180
- Waiter and Waitress — $30,740
- Cooks, Restaurant — $29,710
- Cooks, Fast Food — $23,110