Fast Food and Counter Worker salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A fast food and counter worker earns a median of $31,200 a year ($15.00 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $32,150. About 3,854,050 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $31,200
- Gross pay
- $1,200.00
- Federal income tax
- −$60.15
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$74.40
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$17.40
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,048.05
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $31,200
- Federal
- $1,564
- FICA
- $2,387
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $27,249
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Fast Food and Counter Worker salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $42,280 | $41,680 | 449,840 |
| Washington | $37,710 | $40,390 | 94,710 |
| District of Columbia | $37,430 | $39,840 | 5,500 |
| Colorado | $36,270 | $36,890 | 82,010 |
| Vermont | $36,030 | $37,610 | 6,830 |
| Massachusetts | $35,850 | $35,880 | 85,810 |
| Connecticut | $35,380 | $36,330 | 35,720 |
| Hawaii | $35,250 | $35,810 | 24,130 |
| New York | $35,250 | $36,920 | 168,620 |
| Oregon | $35,050 | $36,200 | 59,920 |
| Maine | $34,710 | $35,880 | 17,250 |
| Arizona | $34,230 | $35,090 | 77,210 |
| New Jersey | $34,150 | $35,110 | 93,730 |
| Illinois | $33,910 | $34,280 | 127,590 |
| Maryland | $33,660 | $34,210 | 49,380 |
| Alaska | $33,280 | $34,500 | 5,900 |
| Nevada | $31,950 | $32,820 | 45,850 |
| New Hampshire | $31,590 | $32,120 | 14,540 |
| Rhode Island | $31,490 | $34,040 | 13,310 |
| Minnesota | $31,370 | $32,450 | 58,970 |
| Delaware | $31,300 | $33,650 | 13,310 |
| Missouri | $30,390 | $32,130 | 29,360 |
| Virginia | $30,110 | $31,930 | 104,460 |
| North Dakota | $30,080 | $31,260 | 11,470 |
| South Dakota | $29,490 | $30,900 | 15,150 |
| Montana | $29,090 | $30,120 | 14,960 |
| Florida | $29,080 | $30,940 | 235,400 |
| Nebraska | $29,000 | $30,910 | 30,060 |
| Idaho | $28,940 | $28,630 | 25,810 |
| Michigan | $28,930 | $30,260 | 103,130 |
| Indiana | $28,790 | $28,980 | 97,290 |
| New Mexico | $28,700 | $30,260 | 28,250 |
| Utah | $28,670 | $29,100 | 52,340 |
| Wisconsin | $28,600 | $29,110 | 67,750 |
| North Carolina | $28,570 | $29,050 | 92,230 |
| Pennsylvania | $28,570 | $28,930 | 142,220 |
| Ohio | $28,430 | $28,900 | 163,560 |
| Iowa | $28,390 | $28,940 | 40,290 |
| Wyoming | $27,860 | $27,520 | 7,060 |
| Texas | $27,740 | $27,750 | 460,530 |
| Kansas | $27,580 | $27,190 | 47,140 |
| South Carolina | $27,520 | $27,840 | 65,070 |
| Tennessee | $27,470 | $27,870 | 90,690 |
| Kentucky | $27,130 | $26,890 | 41,860 |
| Georgia | $26,920 | $27,290 | 145,030 |
| Arkansas | $26,250 | $26,890 | 35,660 |
| West Virginia | $26,070 | $26,780 | 6,240 |
| Alabama | $23,700 | $25,600 | 41,460 |
| Oklahoma | $23,430 | $25,050 | 52,520 |
| Louisiana | $22,800 | $24,580 | 45,720 |
| Mississippi | $22,610 | $23,880 | 31,220 |
Similar jobs
- Host and Hostess: $31,200
- Cook: $30,890
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper: $33,980
- Bartender: $34,340
- Dishwasher: $34,810
- Waiter and Waitress: $35,230
- Food Preparation Worker: $35,320
- Food Server: $35,360
BLS occupation: Fast Food and Counter Workers. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 35-3023). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $15.00; the average is $15.46.
Which state pays fast food and counter workers the most?
California ($42,280 median), followed by Washington and District of Columbia.
What is the salary range for a fast food and counter worker?
The bottom 10% earn under $22,840 and the top 10% earn over $42,650 a year.
How much is $31,200 after taxes?
About $27,249 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $26,598 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.