Average Salary for Fast Food and Counter Workers
SOC 35-3023 · Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers in the United States is $30,480 ($14.65/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $22,620 at the 10th percentile to $38,800 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 3,780,930 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 34% since 2019.
Median Annual
$30,480
Mean Annual
$31,350
10th Pct
$22,620
75th Pct
$35,440
Employment
3,780,930
Salary Distribution
$23k
10th
$27k
25th
$30k
Median
$35k
75th
$39k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $42,660 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $40,470 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $38,310 |
| Napa, CA | $38,270 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $38,090 |
| Vallejo, CA | $37,680 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $37,650 |
| Salinas, CA | $37,440 |
| Modesto, CA | $37,430 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $37,300 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $36,960 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $36,900 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $36,840 |
| Yuba City, CA | $36,780 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $36,720 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $38,240 |
| California | $37,010 |
| Washington | $36,820 |
| Colorado | $35,440 |
| New York | $35,270 |
| Massachusetts | $35,060 |
| Vermont | $34,540 |
| Oregon | $34,430 |
| Alaska | $34,430 |
| Maine | $34,360 |
| Connecticut | $33,980 |
| New Jersey | $33,290 |
| Arizona | $33,060 |
| Minnesota | $31,950 |
| Illinois | $31,900 |
| Maryland | $31,200 |
| Hawaii | $30,860 |
| Rhode Island | $30,460 |
| New Hampshire | $30,320 |
| Delaware | $30,210 |
| North Dakota | $30,010 |
| South Dakota | $29,480 |
| Nebraska | $29,420 |
| Missouri | $29,310 |
| Montana | $29,280 |
| Nevada | $29,180 |
| Virginia | $29,060 |
| Michigan | $28,870 |
| North Carolina | $28,760 |
| Utah | $28,670 |
| New Mexico | $28,650 |
| Wisconsin | $28,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $28,490 |
| Idaho | $28,450 |
| Iowa | $28,400 |
| Indiana | $28,290 |
| Wyoming | $28,200 |
| Ohio | $28,100 |
| Florida | $27,990 |
| Tennessee | $27,840 |
| Kentucky | $27,170 |
| Kansas | $27,000 |
| Texas | $27,000 |
| South Carolina | $26,830 |
| Arkansas | $26,740 |
| Georgia | $26,310 |
| West Virginia | $24,960 |
| Virgin Islands | $23,680 |
| Oklahoma | $23,590 |
| Alabama | $23,490 |
| Louisiana | $23,110 |
| Mississippi | $22,280 |
| Puerto Rico | $20,850 |
| Guam | $20,580 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Truck Transportation | $45,640 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $43,910 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $43,910 |
| Technical and Trade Schools | $43,750 |
| Broadcasting and Content Providers | $41,580 |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Retailers | $40,530 |
| Furniture, Home Furnishings, Electronics, and Appliance Retailers | $40,010 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) | $39,310 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $38,410 |
| Hospitals | $38,210 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $37,510 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $37,470 |
| Automobile Dealers | $37,440 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers | $37,300 |
| Casino Hotels | $37,260 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | $36,990 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $36,860 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $36,860 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $36,850 |
| Gambling Industries | $36,450 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $36,430 |
| Offices of Physicians | $36,420 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | $36,080 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $36,070 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers | $35,990 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $35,980 |
| Finance and Insurance | $35,980 |
| Other Automotive Repair and Maintenance | $35,930 |
| Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers | $35,880 |
| Traveler Accommodation | $35,870 |
| Junior Colleges | $35,830 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $35,750 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | $35,720 |
| Beverage Manufacturing | $35,720 |
| Accommodation | $35,720 |
| General Merchandise Retailers | $35,670 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $35,570 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $35,570 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $35,560 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $35,560 |
| Other Support Services | $35,480 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $35,370 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters | $35,180 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers (4594 and 4595 only) | $35,100 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) | $35,030 |
| Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities | $34,870 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $34,800 |
| Performing Arts Companies | $34,770 |
| Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | $34,520 |
| Food and Beverage Retailers | $34,440 |
| Food and Beverage Retailers (4451 and 4452 only) | $34,440 |
| Amusement Parks and Arcades | $34,430 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $34,410 |
| Retail Trade | $34,340 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities | $34,300 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $34,160 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | $34,090 |
| Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities | $34,070 |
| Automotive Repair and Maintenance | $34,040 |
| Other Food Manufacturing | $33,860 |
| Educational Services | $33,860 |
| Manufacturing | $33,820 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $33,740 |
| Repair and Maintenance | $33,680 |
| Food Manufacturing | $33,640 |
| Individual and Family Services | $33,610 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly | $33,550 |
| Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) | $33,450 |
| Rental and Leasing Services | $33,450 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $33,400 |
| Educational Services | $33,400 |
| Drycleaning and Laundry Services | $33,390 |
| Telecommunications | $33,230 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $33,150 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $33,150 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $33,150 |
| Social Assistance | $32,910 |
| Educational Support Services | $32,800 |
| Religious Organizations | $32,800 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation | $32,790 |
| Temporary Help Services | $32,670 |
| Special Food Services | $32,640 |
| Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services | $32,640 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services | $32,610 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries | $32,530 |
| Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers | $32,510 |
| Child Care Services | $32,300 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) | $32,160 |
| Wholesale Trade | $32,140 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities | $32,100 |
| Facilities Support Services | $31,950 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) | $31,950 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $31,920 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities | $31,830 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $31,740 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $31,730 |
| Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $31,710 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | $31,500 |
| Gasoline Stations | $31,380 |
| Gasoline Stations and Fuel Dealers | $31,370 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land | $31,320 |
| Other Miscellaneous Retailers | $31,310 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $31,250 |
| Full-Service Restaurants | $31,200 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $31,200 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $31,200 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $31,100 |
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events | $31,080 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing | $31,060 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | $31,040 |
| Personal and Laundry Services | $30,890 |
| Other Personal Services | $30,890 |
| Building Material and Supplies Dealers | $30,880 |
| Personal Care Services | $30,880 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $30,640 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $30,640 |
| Employment Services | $30,490 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $30,410 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers | $30,370 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | $30,330 |
| Book Retailers and News Dealers | $30,260 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | $30,250 |
| RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps | $30,160 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | $30,140 |
| Food Services and Drinking Places | $30,110 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | $30,050 |
| Restaurants and Other Eating Places | $29,990 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | $29,910 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $29,820 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | $29,740 |
| Real Estate | $29,270 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers | $29,120 |
| Grantmaking and Giving Services | $29,120 |
| Dairy Product Manufacturing | $29,110 |
| Construction | $29,040 |
| Construction of Buildings | $28,620 |
| Residential Building Construction | $28,620 |
| Health and Personal Care Retailers | $28,530 |
| Health and Personal Care Retailers | $28,530 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $28,500 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Retailers | $28,160 |
| Florists | $27,800 |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers | $27,790 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $27,730 |
| Information | $27,480 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries | $27,360 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries | $27,360 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $27,360 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $27,360 |
| Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services | $27,190 |
| Motion Picture and Video Exhibition | $27,100 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities | $27,100 |
| Spectator Sports | $26,990 |
| Sporting Goods Retailers | $26,560 |
| Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | $26,410 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Retailers | $25,870 |
| Electronics and Appliance Retailers | $25,820 |
| Clothing, Clothing Accessories, Shoe, and Jewelry Retailers | $24,960 |
| Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers | $24,960 |
| Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Retailers | $24,810 |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | $24,490 |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | $24,490 |
| Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies Retailers | $23,290 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $22,360 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $30,480 |
| 2023 | $29,540 |
| 2022 | $27,930 |
| 2021 | $25,100 |
| 2020 | $23,860 |
| 2019 | $22,740 |