Fast Food and Counter Workers Salary in New York, NY-NJ

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

Median annual salary $35,420 +16.2% vs national
Median hourly $17.03
10th percentile $31,470
90th percentile $42,560
Employed locally 175,790
National median $30,480

Compare Fast Food and Counter Workers salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how New York, NY-NJ stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Fast Food and Counter Workers
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,470
    25th
    $33,540
    50th (median)
    $35,420
    75th
    $36,910
    90th
    $42,560

    New York economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $97,334 2023 • Census ACS
    Fast Food and Counter Workers salary vs area income 36% Median Fast Food and Counter Workers salary is 64% 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $42,660
    Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $35,080
    Kingston, NY $34,670
    Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $34,240
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $34,170
    Ithaca, NY $34,090

    Related occupations in New York, NY-NJ

    OccupationMedian salary
    Waiters and Waitresses$45,010
    Cooks, Restaurant$41,980
    Food Preparation Workers$36,330
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$48,540
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$37,250
    Bartenders$59,030

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers in New York, NY-NJ is $17.03, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.22 or more per hour.

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

    The median Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in New York, NY-NJ is 16.2% above 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 New York?

    Entry-level Fast Food and Counter Workers (10th percentile) earn around $31,470 per year in New York, NY-NJ. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $33,540.