Fast Food and Counter Workers Salary in Wilmington, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Wilmington, NC

Median annual salary $28,910 -5.2% vs national
Median hourly $13.90
10th percentile $20,940
90th percentile $36,470
Employed locally 4,440
National median $30,480

Compare Fast Food and Counter Workers salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Wilmington, NC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Fast Food and Counter Workers
in
Wilmington, NC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $20,940
    25th
    $22,700
    50th (median)
    $28,910
    75th
    $33,670
    90th
    $36,470

    Wilmington economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $73,687 2023 • Census ACS
    Fast Food and Counter Workers salary vs area income 39% Median Fast Food and Counter Workers salary is 61% 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 Wilmington, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Waiters and Waitresses $21,540
    Cooks, Fast Food $26,740
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,170
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $44,780
    Bartenders $29,650
    Food Preparation Workers $31,750

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers in Wilmington, NC is $13.90, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.80 or more per hour.

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

    The median Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Wilmington, NC is 5.2% 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 Wilmington?

    Entry-level Fast Food and Counter Workers (10th percentile) earn around $20,940 per year in Wilmington, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $22,700.