Fast Food and Counter Worker salary in North Carolina
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A fast food and counter worker in North Carolina earns a median of $28,570 a year ($13.74/hour equivalent), 8.4% below the national median of $31,200. North Carolina ranks #35 of 51 states. About 92,230 people do this job in North Carolina.
Take-home pay in North Carolina
At the North Carolina median, a single filer keeps about $24,505 a year after federal, FICA and North Carolina taxes — $942 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the North Carolina paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,098.85
- Federal income tax
- −$48.02
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$68.13
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$15.93
- North Carolina income tax
- −$24.28
- Take-home pay
- $942.49
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $28,570
- Federal
- $1,248
- FICA
- $2,186
- State + local
- $631
- Net
- $24,505
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 4.0%
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.
How North Carolina compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | $42,280 |
| #2 | Washington | $37,710 |
| #3 | District of Columbia | $37,430 |
| #4 | Colorado | $36,270 |
| #5 | Vermont | $36,030 |
| #35 | North Carolina | $28,570 |
| #49 | Oklahoma | $23,430 |
| #50 | Louisiana | $22,800 |
| #51 | Mississippi | $22,610 |
See the national fast food and counter worker salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Fast Food and Counter Workers (SOC 35-3023), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in North Carolina?
The median salary is $28,570 a year and the average is $29,050 (BLS May 2025).
Is North Carolina a good state for fast food and counter workers?
North Carolina ranks #35 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 8% below the national median of $31,200.
What is $28,570 after taxes in North Carolina?
About $24,505 a year ($942 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.