What Fast Food and Counter Workers do
The U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET database describes the work of Fast Food and Counter Workers this way: "Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages."
The core tasks O*NET records for this occupation include: "Communicate with customers regarding orders, comments, and complaints"; "Accept payment from customers, and make change as necessary"; "Scrub and polish counters, steam tables, and other equipment, and clean glasses, dishes, and fountain equipment"; "Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping, mopping, and washing dishes, to keep equipment and facilities sanitary"; "Balance receipts and payments in cash registers".
Education, experience and training
According to the BLS Employment Projections, the typical education needed to enter this occupation is no formal educational credential. Typical on-the-job training to reach competency is short-term on-the-job training.
Job outlook for Fast Food and Counter Workers
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 3,855,900 jobs in this occupation in 2025 and projects 4,079,100 in 2035, an increase of 223,200 jobs (+5.8%). That is faster than the 3.5% projected for all occupations.
About 827,400 openings a year are projected on average, counting both new positions and positions vacated by workers who retire or switch occupations. Relative to today's employment that is 21.5% a year, against 10.3% for all occupations. BLS lists a national median annual wage of $31,200, compared with $50,980 for all occupations.
Where Fast Food and Counter Workers earn the most
Across the 44 states with published data, the employment-weighted average of local median wages for this occupation ranges from $23,223 in Louisiana to $42,322 in California, a gap of $19,100 (1.82 times). 21 of those 44 states average above the BLS national median of $31,200 and 23 average at or below it.
Texas employs the most people in this occupation among the states covered, 457,110, which is 9.4% of the 4,850,980 counted across them. California follows with 448,250.
Highest-paying states
California ($42,322), Washington ($37,254) and Colorado ($35,674) lead the ranking, while Louisiana ($23,223) and Mississippi ($24,212) are at the bottom. The table below lists every state with a link to its county-level detail.
Fast Food and Counter Workers: pay against the cost of living
We compare 112 labor markets, each represented by its most populous county. After federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics (a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline), the largest yearly margin is in Jefferson County, WV (Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV) at $9,238. The weakest market is Kings County, NY, where the basics cost $11,640 more than take-home pay.
The median wage for this occupation covers all four basics in 83 of the 112 markets and falls short in 29. A one-bedroom apartment takes between 41.6% and 112.0% of take-home pay, depending on the market.
Occupations related to Fast Food and Counter Workers
Other occupations in the same SOC minor group (35-3000) include Food Servers, Nonrestaurant, Bartenders and Waiters and Waitresses.
Frequently asked questions about Fast Food and Counter Workers
What is the national median wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers?
BLS lists a national median annual wage of $31,200. Across the states covered here the average local median ranges from $23,223 to $42,322.
Which state pays Fast Food and Counter Workers the most?
California, with an employment-weighted average local median wage of $42,322. Washington is next at $37,254.
What is the job outlook for Fast Food and Counter Workers?
BLS projects employment to grow by 5.8% between 2025 and 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 827,400 openings a year.
What education do Fast Food and Counter Workers need?
The typical entry-level education is no formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training, according to BLS.
Where can Fast Food and Counter Workers afford to live best?
Among the markets covered, Jefferson County, WV leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes, rent, food, energy and gasoline: $9,238 on a median wage of $34,600.