Fast Food and Counter Workers salary
Food & hospitality · OCC code 35-3023 · gross annual wage · BLS OEWS May 2024
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the US earn a median of $30,480 per year (mean $31,350) as of the BLS OEWS May 2024 survey — that is -38.4% versus the $49,500 median for all US jobs, well below the US median wage for all jobs. The middle half earn between $27,150 and $35,440; the top 10% earn $38,800 or more. The median hourly wage is $14.65. About 3,780,930 are employed nationally. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($38,240). Wages are gross (pre-tax) and vary by employer, experience and location.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
Fast Food and Counter Workers pay range (national percentiles)
What fast food and counter workers earn across the pay distribution, nationally (BLS OEWS, May 2024):
| Pay level | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (lowest-paid 10%) | $22,620 |
| 25th percentile | $27,150 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $30,480 |
| Mean (average) | $31,350 |
| 75th percentile | $35,440 |
| 90th percentile (highest-paid 10%) | $38,800 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
A dash (—) means BLS did not release that figure; a plus (+) means the wage is at or above the BLS top code of $239,200/yr. See what wage percentiles mean or check where your salary ranks.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary by state
Median and mean wage for fast food and counter workers in each of the 51 states with published data, highest median first. The national median is $30,480.
| # | State | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $38,240 | $40,870 | 7,390 |
| 2 | California | $37,010 | $39,450 | 438,950 |
| 3 | Washington | $36,820 | $39,150 | 94,830 |
| 4 | Colorado | $35,440 | $36,000 | 78,720 |
| 5 | New York | $35,270 | $36,300 | 183,810 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $35,060 | $35,970 | 81,770 |
| 7 | Vermont | $34,540 | $37,640 | 5,800 |
| 8 | Alaska | $34,430 | $32,640 | 5,060 |
| 9 | Oregon | $34,430 | $35,090 | 58,150 |
| 10 | Maine | $34,360 | $35,360 | 16,520 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $33,980 | $34,960 | 32,180 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $33,290 | $34,160 | 86,980 |
| 13 | Arizona | $33,060 | $33,950 | 86,640 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $31,950 | $32,720 | 59,220 |
| 15 | Illinois | $31,900 | $32,900 | 139,090 |
| 16 | Maryland | $31,200 | $33,400 | 48,270 |
| 17 | Hawaii | $30,860 | $33,950 | 25,850 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $30,460 | $32,630 | 12,650 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $30,320 | $30,800 | 12,550 |
| 20 | Delaware | $30,210 | $31,800 | 13,800 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $30,010 | $30,150 | 11,580 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $29,480 | $30,390 | 14,420 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $29,420 | $30,300 | 28,360 |
| 24 | Missouri | $29,310 | $30,810 | 32,710 |
| 25 | Montana | $29,280 | $29,780 | 15,940 |
| 26 | Nevada | $29,180 | $30,870 | 44,110 |
| 27 | Virginia | $29,060 | $30,890 | 103,390 |
| 28 | Michigan | $28,870 | $29,410 | 114,880 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $28,760 | $29,030 | 85,120 |
| 30 | Utah | $28,670 | $29,030 | 50,980 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $28,650 | $30,130 | 23,990 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $28,500 | $28,410 | 60,570 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | $28,490 | $28,690 | 131,650 |
| 34 | Idaho | $28,450 | $27,630 | 24,440 |
| 35 | Iowa | $28,400 | $28,310 | 37,060 |
| 36 | Indiana | $28,290 | $28,200 | 101,500 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $28,200 | $27,190 | 6,840 |
| 38 | Ohio | $28,100 | $28,580 | 167,650 |
| 39 | Florida | $27,990 | $29,600 | 241,010 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $27,840 | $27,790 | 84,170 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $27,170 | $26,600 | 41,890 |
| 42 | Kansas | $27,000 | $26,800 | 45,420 |
| 43 | Texas | $27,000 | $26,850 | 410,760 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $26,830 | $26,730 | 63,380 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $26,740 | $27,010 | 36,150 |
| 46 | Georgia | $26,310 | $26,920 | 151,240 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $24,960 | $27,130 | 7,280 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $23,590 | $25,090 | 53,380 |
| 49 | Alabama | $23,490 | $25,450 | 37,500 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $23,110 | $25,360 | 34,840 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $22,280 | $23,330 | 31,010 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
Highest median: District of Columbia ($38,240). Lowest: Mississippi ($22,280).
Similar-paying jobs
| Occupation | Median wage | Mean wage | vs US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers (this job) | $30,480 | $31,350 | -38.4% |
| Cashiers | $31,190 | $31,810 | -37.0% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $33,760 | $38,360 | -31.8% |
| Retail Salespersons | $34,580 | $37,150 | -30.1% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $34,900 | $34,990 | -29.5% |
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | $35,250 | $43,460 | -28.8% |
Cashiers · Waiters and Waitresses · Retail Salespersons · Home Health and Personal Care Aides · Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
Frequently asked questions
How much do fast food and counter workers make?
Fast Food and Counter Workers earn a national median of $30,480 per year (mean $31,350) as of the BLS OEWS May 2024 survey. The middle half earn between $27,150 (25th percentile) and $35,440 (75th percentile); the top 10% earn $38,800 or more and the bottom 10% earn under $22,620. These are gross, pre-tax wages.
What is the hourly wage for fast food and counter workers?
The median hourly wage is $14.65 and the mean is $15.07 (BLS OEWS, May 2024). BLS reports some occupations only as annual wages, in which case hourly figures are shown as a dash.
Which state pays fast food and counter workers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for fast food and counter workers at $38,240, versus a national median of $30,480. State pay reflects local cost of living, demand and industry mix. See the full state table on this page.
How many fast food and counter workers are there in the US?
BLS estimates about 3,780,930 fast food and counter workers are employed in the US (OEWS, May 2024). Among the 124 occupations tracked here, this job ranks #124 of 124 by median pay.
Keep exploring
Sources & accuracy
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 (OCC 35-3023), gross annual wages, U.S. public domain, retrieved June 2026. OEWS figures are survey estimates and reflect pay before tax. Your actual pay depends on employer, experience, certifications, industry and location. This is information, not financial or career advice — see our methodology and disclaimer.
Last updated: 2026-06-20