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Counter Attendant Salary in the United States

How much does a Counter Attendant make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Counter Attendant in the United States is $35,217 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $17.

However, a Counter Attendant's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $40,037
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $32,938 to $37,740
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $30,863
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Counter Attendant Salaries

A Counter Attendant's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Counter Attendant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Counter Attendant's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $34,639
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $35,405
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $36,949
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $37,175
  • Expert (over 8 years): $37,288
Levels Salary
Entry Level Counter Attendant$34,639
Intermediate Level Counter Attendant$35,405
Senior Level Counter Attendant$36,949
Specialist Level Counter Attendant$37,175
Expert Level Counter Attendant$37,288
View as Graph

How Do Counter Attendants Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Counter Attendants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $38,992.
  • California: $38,844.
  • Massachusetts: $38,327.

Top Paying Cities for Counter Attendant

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $44,419
  • San Francisco: $43,933
  • Oakland: $43,007

What Skills Can Increase a Counter Attendant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 20.74% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Food Handling (Mentioned in 2.42% Job Postings): Food Handling means one or more operations of food production, manufacture, offering or displaying for sale, storage, preserving, wrapping, transportation, delivery, importation, exportation, or the licensing or approval for any of such activities.
  • Purchasing (Mentioned in 1.41% Job Postings): Purchasing refers to a business or organization attempting to acquire goods or services to accomplish its goals. Although there are several organizations that attempt to set standards in the purchasing process, processes can vary greatly between organizations. Typically the word “purchasing” is not used interchangeably with the word “procurement”, since procurement typically includes expediting, supplier quality, and transportation and logistics (T&L) in addition to purchasing.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 20.74%
Food Handling 2.42%
Purchasing 1.41%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Counter Attendant's salary.

  • Products and Services: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Written Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Products and Services $38,739
10%
Commitment $38,387
9%
Written Communication $38,034
8%
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Counter Attendant Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Counter Attendant salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $39,423. While startup companies pay approximate $33,351.

Counter Attendant Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $33,351
Growth Stage 51~500 $35,273
Established 501~5000 $38,070
Enterprise 5000+ $39,423

Counter Attendant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Counter Attendant roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Counter Attendant positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Counter Attendant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Counter Attendant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$52,826$25.050%

How Education impacts an Counter Attendant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Counter Attendant enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Counter Attendant with a Bachelor's Degree is between $31,033 and $33,016.

Counter Attendant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Counter Attendant
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 9.6%
High School 43.4%
Associates 15.7%
Bachelors 26.5%
Masters 4.8%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Counter Attendant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Counter Attendant's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$32,938
Average $35,217/year
$37,740
$2,745
Average $2,935/month
$3,145
$633
Average $677/week
$726
$16
Average $17/hour
$18
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $37,740 $3,145 $726 $18
Average $35,217 $2,935 $677 $17
25th Percentile $32,938 $2,745 $633 $16

Counter Attendant Salary Growth & Career Path

Counter Attendant

Next Role

Advancement

For a Counter Attendant, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Retail Sales Staff role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $39,413 - a projected growth of 12% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Counter Attendant

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Counter Attendant

Here are companies hiring for Counter Attendant and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Counter Attendant

1. Where can a Counter Attendant earn the most?

A Counter Attendant's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Counter Attendant earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Counter Attendant is $44,419.

2. What is the highest pay for Counter Attendant?

The highest pay for Counter Attendant is $40,037.

3. What is the lowest pay for Counter Attendant?

The lowest pay for Counter Attendant is $30,863.

4. What are the responsibilities of Counter Attendant?

Responds and attends to patron requests. Responsible for various attendant duties including making sandwiches and placing food in display cases. Has knowledge of proper food handling procedures and government regulations regarding the food code. May require a high school diploma or equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Works under the close direction of senior personnel in the functional area. Possesses a moderate understanding of general aspects of the job. May require 0-1 year of general work experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Counter Attendant?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Counter Attendant roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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