SOC 35-3023 · Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
Fast Food and Counter Workers wages by metro
National median annual wage
$31,200
- 10th percentile
- $22,840
- 25th percentile
- $27,700
- Median
- $31,200
- 75th percentile
- $36,070
- 90th percentile
- $42,650
- Mean
- $32,150
Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.
National employment in May 2025: 3,854,050.
That median is 38.8% lower than the all-occupations national median of $50,980.
The metro and state figures below are the same May 2025 release. A blank wage means BLS did not publish it. See when a wage is not published.
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Highest published medians
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | 1,440 | $36,520 | $45,410 | $48,780 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 23,060 | $37,860 | $44,570 | $54,220 |
| Vallejo, CA | 4,430 | $35,760 | $44,110 | $49,330 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 49,970 | $36,460 | $43,870 | $55,210 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 4,720 | $36,510 | $43,610 | $49,080 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 3,220 | $35,120 | $43,400 | $46,930 |
| Salinas, CA | 4,180 | $35,290 | $43,260 | $46,790 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 5,930 | $35,280 | $42,940 | $46,520 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 24,910 | $35,170 | $42,860 | $47,450 |
| Modesto, CA | 6,700 | $35,270 | $42,630 | $47,030 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 9,520 | $35,340 | $42,370 | $46,870 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 3,310 | $34,650 | $42,350 | $46,000 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 51,310 | $34,790 | $42,280 | $46,540 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 42,550 | $35,510 | $42,190 | $47,200 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 160,270 | $35,720 | $42,110 | $46,830 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 1,610 | $34,480 | $42,060 | $46,060 |
| Yuba City, CA | 1,630 | $34,850 | $42,040 | $46,520 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 7,560 | $34,700 | $41,740 | $46,360 |
| Fresno, CA | 12,330 | $35,070 | $39,480 | $45,830 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 9,180 | $35,190 | $39,470 | $45,660 |
Where employment is largest
States and territories
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 449,840 | $35,530 | $42,280 | $47,950 |
| Washington | 94,710 | $35,050 | $37,710 | $47,860 |
| District of Columbia | 5,500 | $37,260 | $37,430 | $46,800 |
| Colorado | 82,010 | $31,040 | $36,270 | $44,100 |
| Vermont | 6,830 | $30,450 | $36,030 | $46,080 |
| Massachusetts | 85,810 | $31,290 | $35,850 | $38,700 |
| Connecticut | 35,720 | $34,010 | $35,380 | $39,660 |
| Hawaii | 24,130 | $29,120 | $35,250 | $45,140 |
| New York | 168,620 | $32,240 | $35,250 | $44,740 |
| Oregon | 59,920 | $30,950 | $35,050 | $44,370 |
| Maine | 17,250 | $30,740 | $34,710 | $42,640 |
| Arizona | 77,210 | $30,760 | $34,230 | $43,990 |
| New Jersey | 93,730 | $32,220 | $34,150 | $39,130 |
| Illinois | 127,590 | $31,200 | $33,910 | $37,330 |
| Maryland | 49,380 | $31,200 | $33,660 | $37,390 |
| Alaska | 5,900 | $24,830 | $33,280 | $45,170 |
| Nevada | 45,850 | $26,630 | $31,950 | $42,860 |
| New Hampshire | 14,540 | $22,580 | $31,590 | $38,440 |
| Rhode Island | 13,310 | $31,200 | $31,490 | $36,540 |
| Minnesota | 58,970 | $28,190 | $31,370 | $37,140 |
| Delaware | 13,310 | $31,200 | $31,300 | $37,530 |
| Missouri | 29,360 | $28,600 | $30,390 | $36,830 |
| Virginia | 104,460 | $27,130 | $30,110 | $37,550 |
| North Dakota | 11,470 | $22,750 | $30,080 | $37,380 |
| South Dakota | 15,150 | $27,880 | $29,490 | $36,380 |
| Montana | 14,960 | $22,760 | $29,090 | $36,780 |
| Florida | 235,400 | $27,570 | $29,080 | $36,430 |
| Nebraska | 30,060 | $28,080 | $29,000 | $35,760 |
| Idaho | 25,810 | $20,130 | $28,940 | $36,330 |
| Michigan | 103,130 | $25,960 | $28,930 | $35,970 |
| Indiana | 97,290 | $22,110 | $28,790 | $35,820 |
| New Mexico | 28,250 | $26,670 | $28,700 | $36,360 |
| Utah | 52,340 | $21,980 | $28,670 | $36,670 |
| Wisconsin | 67,750 | $22,240 | $28,600 | $36,090 |
| North Carolina | 92,230 | $21,800 | $28,570 | $36,820 |
| Pennsylvania | 142,220 | $22,030 | $28,570 | $35,880 |
| Ohio | 163,560 | $23,200 | $28,430 | $34,920 |
| Iowa | 40,290 | $21,620 | $28,390 | $35,990 |
| Wyoming | 7,060 | $20,300 | $27,860 | $37,020 |
| Texas | 460,530 | $21,710 | $27,740 | $35,680 |
| Kansas | 47,140 | $21,620 | $27,580 | $34,280 |
| South Carolina | 65,070 | $22,340 | $27,520 | $35,020 |
| Tennessee | 90,690 | $21,850 | $27,470 | $35,060 |
| Kentucky | 41,860 | $21,590 | $27,130 | $34,420 |
| Georgia | 145,030 | $20,910 | $26,920 | $36,110 |
| Arkansas | 35,660 | $23,240 | $26,250 | $32,120 |
| West Virginia | 6,240 | $18,750 | $26,070 | $35,150 |
| Virgin Islands | 840 | $23,330 | $24,410 | $26,780 |
| Alabama | 41,460 | $21,080 | $23,700 | $32,740 |
| Oklahoma | 52,520 | $20,510 | $23,430 | $30,300 |
| Louisiana | 45,720 | $18,610 | $22,800 | $33,320 |
| Mississippi | 31,220 | $18,530 | $22,610 | $29,090 |
| Puerto Rico | 26,440 | $21,840 | $22,030 | $23,000 |
| Guam | 1,130 | $20,490 | $20,770 | $22,140 |
Other food preparation and serving related occupations
- Waiters and Waitresses
- Cooks, Restaurant
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
- Food Preparation Workers
- Bartenders
- Cooks, Fast Food
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
- Dishwashers
Questions this page answers
What is the national median wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers?
In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, the national median annual wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers is $31,200. Employment is 3,854,050.
How does Fast Food and Counter Workers pay compare with all occupations?
The national median for Fast Food and Counter Workers is 38.8% lower than the all-occupations median of $50,980.
Which metro has the highest published median for Fast Food and Counter Workers?
Among metros with a published annual median in the May 2025 tables, Napa, CA is highest on this page's list at $45,410.