Fast Food and Counter Workers Salary by State
The national median pay for fast food and counter workers is $31,200 a year. By state, it ranges from $22,610 in Mississippi to $42,280 in California.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $22,840
- 25th percentile
- $27,700
- Median
- $31,200
- 75th percentile
- $36,070
- Top 10%
- $42,650
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job. About 3,854,050 jobs.
Median pay in 50 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $42,280 | +36% | $35,530 | $47,950 | 449,840 |
| 2 | Washington | $37,710 | +21% | $35,050 | $47,860 | 94,710 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $37,430 | +20% | $37,260 | $46,800 | 5,500 |
| 4 | Colorado | $36,270 | +16% | $31,040 | $44,100 | 82,010 |
| 5 | Vermont | $36,030 | +15% | $30,450 | $46,080 | 6,830 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $35,850 | +15% | $31,290 | $38,700 | 85,810 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $35,380 | +13% | $34,010 | $39,660 | 35,720 |
| 8 | Hawaii | $35,250 | +13% | $29,120 | $45,140 | 24,130 |
| 9 | New York | $35,250 | +13% | $32,240 | $44,740 | 168,620 |
| 10 | Oregon | $35,050 | +12% | $30,950 | $44,370 | 59,920 |
| 11 | Maine | $34,710 | +11% | $30,740 | $42,640 | 17,250 |
| 12 | Arizona | $34,230 | +10% | $30,760 | $43,990 | 77,210 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $34,150 | +9% | $32,220 | $39,130 | 93,730 |
| 14 | Illinois | $33,910 | +9% | $31,200 | $37,330 | 127,590 |
| 15 | Maryland | $33,660 | +8% | $31,200 | $37,390 | 49,380 |
| 16 | Alaska | $33,280 | +7% | $24,830 | $45,170 | 5,900 |
| 17 | Nevada | $31,950 | +2% | $26,630 | $42,860 | 45,850 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $31,590 | +1% | $22,580 | $38,440 | 14,540 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $31,490 | +1% | $31,200 | $36,540 | 13,310 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $31,370 | +1% | $28,190 | $37,140 | 58,970 |
| 21 | Delaware | $31,300 | 0% | $31,200 | $37,530 | 13,310 |
| 22 | Missouri | $30,390 | −3% | $28,600 | $36,830 | 29,360 |
| 23 | Virginia | $30,110 | −3% | $27,130 | $37,550 | 104,460 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $30,080 | −4% | $22,750 | $37,380 | 11,470 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $29,490 | −5% | $27,880 | $36,380 | 15,150 |
| 26 | Montana | $29,090 | −7% | $22,760 | $36,780 | 14,960 |
| 27 | Florida | $29,080 | −7% | $27,570 | $36,430 | 235,400 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $29,000 | −7% | $28,080 | $35,760 | 30,060 |
| 29 | Idaho | $28,940 | −7% | $20,130 | $36,330 | 25,810 |
| 30 | Michigan | $28,930 | −7% | $25,960 | $35,970 | 103,130 |
| 31 | Indiana | $28,790 | −8% | $22,110 | $35,820 | 97,290 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $28,700 | −8% | $26,670 | $36,360 | 28,250 |
| 33 | Utah | $28,670 | −8% | $21,980 | $36,670 | 52,340 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $28,600 | −8% | $22,240 | $36,090 | 67,750 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $28,570 | −8% | $21,800 | $36,820 | 92,230 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $28,570 | −8% | $22,030 | $35,880 | 142,220 |
| 37 | Ohio | $28,430 | −9% | $23,200 | $34,920 | 163,560 |
| 38 | Iowa | $28,390 | −9% | $21,620 | $35,990 | 40,290 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $27,860 | −11% | $20,300 | $37,020 | 7,060 |
| 40 | Texas | $27,740 | −11% | $21,710 | $35,680 | 460,530 |
| 41 | Kansas | $27,580 | −12% | $21,620 | $34,280 | 47,140 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $27,520 | −12% | $22,340 | $35,020 | 65,070 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $27,470 | −12% | $21,850 | $35,060 | 90,690 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $27,130 | −13% | $21,590 | $34,420 | 41,860 |
| 45 | Georgia | $26,920 | −14% | $20,910 | $36,110 | 145,030 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $26,250 | −16% | $23,240 | $32,120 | 35,660 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $26,070 | −16% | $18,750 | $35,150 | 6,240 |
| 48 | Alabama | $23,700 | −24% | $21,080 | $32,740 | 41,460 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $23,430 | −25% | $20,510 | $30,300 | 52,520 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $22,800 | −27% | $18,610 | $33,320 | 45,720 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $22,610 | −28% | $18,530 | $29,090 | 31,220 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary questions
Which state pays fast food and counter workers the most?
California, with a median of $42,280 a year (+36% vs. the national median of $31,200). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays fast food and counter workers the least?
Mississippi, with a median of $22,610 a year (−28% vs. national).
Where do most fast food and counter workers work?
Texas has the most jobs, about 460,530, with a median of $27,740.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.