Fast Food and Counter Workers Salary in Hickory, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Median annual salary $28,400 -6.8% vs national
Median hourly $13.65
10th percentile $19,300
90th percentile $36,650
Employed locally 2,530
National median $30,480

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Fast Food and Counter Workers
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Hickory, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $19,300
    25th
    $22,680
    50th (median)
    $28,400
    75th
    $33,140
    90th
    $36,650

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Fast Food and Counter Workers salary vs area income 47% Median Fast Food and Counter Workers salary is 53% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Fast Food and Counter Workers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    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
    District of Columbia $38,240
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $38,090

    Nearby metros — Fast Food and Counter Workers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $40,470
    Anchorage, AK $34,860
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $34,850
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $33,620
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $31,480
    Grand Junction, CO $31,390

    Related occupations in Hickory, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Cooks, Fast Food $24,180
    Waiters and Waitresses $26,580
    Cooks, Restaurant $34,340
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,760
    Food Preparation Workers $27,790
    Bartenders $28,040

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Fast Food and Counter Workers make per hour in Hickory?

    The median hourly wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers in Hickory, NC is $13.65, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.39 or more per hour.

    Is Hickory above or below average for Fast Food and Counter Workers salaries?

    The median Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Hickory, NC is 6.8% below the national median of $30,480. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Fast Food and Counter Workers in Hickory?

    Entry-level Fast Food and Counter Workers (10th percentile) earn around $19,300 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $22,680.