Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
No formal educational credential
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Fast food and counter workers are a major part of the food service industry, with national employment of 3,796,000 workers. The role offers a large number of opportunities across the country, supported by projected employment growth of 6.1% and 904,000 annual openings. This combination points to a career path where new positions and replacement openings are consistently available. The national median annual salary is $30,480, with higher wages possible in certain states and metro areas. The occupation emphasizes skills such as customer service, interpersonal abilities, speaking and listening, and physical strength and stamina, giving workers a chance to build widely useful capabilities. Typical entry into this field does not require a formal educational credential, which can make it accessible for people starting their first job, re-entering the workforce, or changing careers. Overall, it can serve as a readily available option for gaining work experience, income, and core workplace skills.
Fast food and counter workers earn a national median annual salary of $30,480. Pay varies by location, and some states and metro areas offer higher median wages. Among the top states by opportunity score, California stands out with a median salary of $42,280, followed by Washington at $37,710, Colorado at $36,270, Massachusetts at $35,850, and New York at $35,250. At the metro level, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area has a median salary of $44,570, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA follows closely at $43,870. Other high-opportunity metros such as New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH; and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV offer median salaries from $34,600 to $36,290. These figures show that workers interested in higher earning potential may find stronger pay levels in specific states and metro areas, particularly several in California.
Fast food and counter workers have a sizable presence in the labor market, with national employment of 3,796,000. Projected employment growth of 6.1% indicates that the total number of jobs in this occupation is expected to increase. In addition to growth, there are 904,000 annual openings, reflecting a combination of new positions and openings created when workers change jobs or leave the occupation. This pattern suggests that people entering or re-entering the workforce are likely to see frequent hiring activity in many locations. The consistent 6.1% growth rate also appears across the highlighted states and metro areas, indicating similar projected expansion in those regions. For individuals prioritizing availability of positions, this occupation offers a large employment base and many openings each year, which can support both first-time job seekers and those looking to move between employers or locations within the field.
Location plays a significant role in opportunity for fast food and counter workers. Among states, California ranks highly with an opportunity score of 67.38, median salary of $42,280, and employment of 449,840, combining strong wages with a large number of positions. Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington also have notable opportunity scores between 56.29 and 65.87, with median salaries ranging from $35,250 in New York to $37,710 in Washington and employment levels from 82,010 in Colorado to 168,620 in New York. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA leads with an opportunity score of 77.42 and a median salary of $44,570, while New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ closely follows with an opportunity score of 77.27 and employment of 166,040. Other strong metros such as San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH offer a mix of higher median pay and substantial employment. These differences show that both state and metro choice can meaningfully affect pay levels and job availability.
The typical education requirement for fast food and counter workers is no formal educational credential, which makes this occupation accessible to a wide range of job seekers, including those without traditional academic backgrounds. Because formal education is not required, skills become especially important for success and advancement. Key skills for this field include customer service and interpersonal abilities, which support positive interactions with customers and coworkers. Speaking and listening skills help with clear communication, while physical strength and stamina support the demands of being on one’s feet and handling tasks throughout a shift. Additional skills such as mathematics, fine motor abilities, science, mechanical skills, leadership, and project management can also be relevant in various roles or workplace contexts. Together, this profile allows individuals to enter the occupation quickly while developing transferable skills that can be valuable for future opportunities, whether they remain in food service or explore other career paths, including similar roles like cashiers or other food preparation positions.
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