Fast Food and Counter Workers salary
Fast Food and Counter Workers earn a median of $31,200 a year ($15.00/hr) in the U.S. – from $22,030 in Puerto Rico to $42,280 in California. Enter your pay below to see how you compare.
Median pay, United States$15.00/hr · $31,200 a year
Pay range
90% earn more$22,840$10.98/hr
75% earn more$27,700$13.32/hr
half earn more, half less$31,200$15.00/hr
25% earn more$36,070$17.34/hr
top 10% earn more$42,650$20.51/hr
pulled up by top earners$32,150$15.46/hr
How does my pay compare?
Enter your pay to see where you stand among fast food and counter workers. Nothing you type leaves your device.
Pay by state
States ranked by median annual wage for fast food and counter workers. Tap a state for its minimum wage.
449,840 jobs · $20.33/hr$42,280
94,710 jobs · $18.13/hr$37,710
5,500 jobs · $18.00/hr$37,430
82,010 jobs · $17.44/hr$36,270
6,830 jobs · $17.32/hr$36,030
85,810 jobs · $17.24/hr$35,850
35,720 jobs · $17.01/hr$35,380
24,130 jobs · $16.95/hr$35,250
168,620 jobs · $16.95/hr$35,250
59,920 jobs · $16.85/hr$35,050
17,250 jobs · $16.69/hr$34,710
77,210 jobs · $16.46/hr$34,230
93,730 jobs · $16.42/hr$34,150
127,590 jobs · $16.30/hr$33,910
49,380 jobs · $16.18/hr$33,660
5,900 jobs · $16.00/hr$33,280
45,850 jobs · $15.36/hr$31,950
14,540 jobs · $15.19/hr$31,590
13,310 jobs · $15.14/hr$31,490
58,970 jobs · $15.08/hr$31,370
13,310 jobs · $15.05/hr$31,300
29,360 jobs · $14.61/hr$30,390
104,460 jobs · $14.48/hr$30,110
11,470 jobs · $14.46/hr$30,080
15,150 jobs · $14.18/hr$29,490
14,960 jobs · $13.98/hr$29,090
235,400 jobs · $13.98/hr$29,080
30,060 jobs · $13.94/hr$29,000
25,810 jobs · $13.91/hr$28,940
103,130 jobs · $13.91/hr$28,930
97,290 jobs · $13.84/hr$28,790
28,250 jobs · $13.80/hr$28,700
52,340 jobs · $13.78/hr$28,670
67,750 jobs · $13.75/hr$28,600
92,230 jobs · $13.74/hr$28,570
142,220 jobs · $13.74/hr$28,570
163,560 jobs · $13.67/hr$28,430
40,290 jobs · $13.65/hr$28,390
7,060 jobs · $13.40/hr$27,860
460,530 jobs · $13.34/hr$27,740
47,140 jobs · $13.26/hr$27,580
65,070 jobs · $13.23/hr$27,520
90,690 jobs · $13.21/hr$27,470
41,860 jobs · $13.04/hr$27,130
145,030 jobs · $12.94/hr$26,920
35,660 jobs · $12.62/hr$26,250
6,240 jobs · $12.54/hr$26,070
41,460 jobs · $11.40/hr$23,700
52,520 jobs · $11.27/hr$23,430
45,720 jobs · $10.96/hr$22,800
31,220 jobs · $10.87/hr$22,610
26,440 jobs · $10.59/hr$22,030
Related jobs
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC code 35-3023. Wages exclude the self-employed. All jobs · Minimum wage by state
Questions & answers
How much do fast food and counter workers make?
The median wage for fast food and counter workers in the U.S. was $15.00 an hour or $31,200 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $27,700 and $36,070 a year.
Which state pays fast food and counter workers the most?
California has the highest median wage for fast food and counter workers: $42,280 a year. The lowest published median is in Puerto Rico at $22,030. Living costs also differ a lot between states.
How many fast food and counter workers are there?
BLS estimates 3,854,050 fast food and counter workers were employed in the U.S. in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
What is the difference between median and average pay?
The median is the middle wage: half of workers earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) adds everyone up and divides, so a few very high earners pull it up. The median is usually the better guide to typical pay.
What does the 10th or 90th percentile mean?
The 10th percentile is the wage that only 10% of workers earn less than – often entry-level pay. The 90th percentile is the wage that only 10% earn more than – usually the most experienced or highest-paid workers.