Key Factors That Influence Fast Food Worker Salaries
A Fast Food Worker'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, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Fast Food Worker Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Fast Food Worker'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:
Fast Food Worker (0-1 years): $27,392
Fast Food Shift Supervisor (1-2 years): $34,694
Fast Food Assistant Manager (2-3 years): $42,408
Job Role
Years of Experience
Average Salary
Fast Food Worker
0-1 years
$27,392
Fast Food Shift Supervisor
1-2 years
$34,694
Fast Food Assistant Manager
2-3 years
$42,408
$27,392Fast Food...
$34,694Fast Food...
$42,408Fast Food...
View as Table
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What Am I Worth?
How Do Fast Food Worker 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 Fast Food Workers.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $30,328.
California: $30,213.
Massachusetts: $29,811.
District of Columbia$30,328
California$30,213
Massachusetts$29,811
Washington$29,701
New Jersey$29,690
Alaska$29,652
Connecticut$29,274
New York$29,120
Hawaii$28,630
Rhode Island$28,400
Maryland$28,244
Minnesota$28,030
Colorado$27,948
Illinois$27,921
Oregon$27,817
Delaware$27,740
New Hampshire$27,692
Virginia$27,584
Pennsylvania$27,269
Nevada$27,110
North Dakota$27,058
Michigan$26,976
Wisconsin$26,946
Vermont$26,885
Texas$26,718
Maine$26,707
Arizona$26,691
Ohio$26,672
Georgia$26,420
Indiana$26,294
Wyoming$26,269
Utah$26,231
Iowa$26,214
Kansas$26,083
Louisiana$26,044
North Carolina$26,031
Missouri$26,025
Florida$25,918
Montana$25,861
Nebraska$25,806
Kentucky$25,776
South Carolina$25,666
Tennessee$25,598
Idaho$25,570
New Mexico$25,370
Oklahoma$25,327
Alabama$25,165
South Dakota$24,894
Arkansas$24,746
West Virginia$24,666
Mississippi$24,428
Top Paying Cities for Fast Food Workers
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: $34,550
San Francisco: $34,171
Oakland: $33,451
San Jose, CA$34,550
San Francisco, CA$34,171
Oakland, CA$33,451
New York, NY$31,539
Paramus, NJ$31,155
Queens Village, NY$31,154
Passaic, NJ$31,128
Bergenfield, NJ$31,126
Stamford, CT$31,065
Huntington, NY$31,054
Newark, NJ$30,852
Bridgeport, CT$30,794
Vallejo, CA$30,739
New Brunswick, NJ$30,728
Petaluma, CA$30,712
Middlesex, NJ$30,660
Somerset, NJ$30,641
Santa Cruz, CA$30,605
Boston, MA$30,438
Monterey, CA$30,342
Seattle, WA$30,279
Santa Rosa, CA$30,274
Los Angeles, CA$30,265
Juneau, AK$30,194
Washington, DC$30,164
Orange, CA$30,067
Santa Ana, CA$29,994
Long Beach, CA$29,967
Anaheim, CA$29,961
Anchorage, AK$29,948
Santa Maria, CA$29,865
Everett, WA$29,860
Danbury, CT$29,764
Bremerton, WA$29,726
Tacoma, WA$29,627
New Suffolk, NY$29,627
Sacramento, CA$29,619
Santa Barbara, CA$29,589
Trenton, NJ$29,559
San Diego, CA$29,559
Brockton, MA$29,529
Fairbanks, AK$29,461
Lompoc, CA$29,392
Lowell, MA$29,369
Ventura, CA$29,364
Nashua, NH$29,359
Stockton, CA$29,356
Modesto, CA$29,156
Poughkeepsie, NY$29,096
Olympia, WA$29,044
Kennewick, WA$29,044
New Haven, CT$29,033
Lawrence, MA$28,934
Hartford, CT$28,907
Riverside, CA$28,901
New Bedford, MA$28,874
Richland, WA$28,874
Bakersfield, CA$28,836
San Bernardino, CA$28,825
New Britain, CT$28,822
Atlantic City, NJ$28,822
New London, CT$28,811
Norwich, CT$28,803
Portsmouth, NH$28,797
Boulder, CO$28,739
Portland, OR$28,701
Worcester, MA$28,699
Minneapolis, MN$28,614
Philadelphia, PA$28,575
Honolulu, HI$28,485
Saint Paul, MN$28,472
Vineland, NJ$28,466
Providence, RI$28,386
Chicago, IL$28,307
Bellingham, WA$28,274
Springfield, MA$28,252
Baltimore, MD$28,244
Chico, CA$28,175
Pittsfield, MA$28,101
Manchester, NH$28,049
Spokane, WA$27,929
Denver, CO$27,926
Albany, NY$27,797
Troy, NY$27,786
Nassau, NY$27,757
Schenectady, NY$27,729
Wilmington, DE$27,707
Burlington, VT$27,669
Salem, OR$27,658
Portland, ME$27,573
Yakima, WA$27,545
Rochester, MN$27,460
Reno, NV$27,447
Fresno, CA$27,447
Milwaukee, WI$27,422
Detroit, MI$27,395
Ann Arbor, MI$27,390
Allentown, PA$27,387
Colorado Springs, CO$27,340
Syracuse, NY$27,326
Carson City, NV$27,326
Houston, TX$27,288
Eugene, OR$27,274
Gary, IN$27,241
Springfield, OR$27,219
Bismarck, ND$27,214
Galveston, TX$27,195
Medford, OR$27,154
Fort Collins, CO$27,143
Concord, NH$27,129
Austin, TX$27,121
Mesa, AZ$27,063
Reading, PA$27,061
Phoenix, AZ$27,058
Dallas, TX$27,050
Saint Cloud, MN$27,023
Madison, WI$26,987
Utica, NY$26,913
Rochester, NY$26,869
Des Moines, IA$26,866
Raleigh, NC$26,863
Atlanta, GA$26,822
Battle Creek, MI$26,814
Salt Lake City, UT$26,806
Lancaster, PA$26,765
Harrisburg, PA$26,726
Kansas City, MO$26,699
Champaign, IL$26,694
Kansas City, KS$26,694
Fort Worth, TX$26,691
Columbus, OH$26,686
Boca Raton, FL$26,680
Pittsburgh, PA$26,669
Richmond, VA$26,658
Indianapolis, IN$26,652
Cleveland, OH$26,650
Las Vegas, NV$26,617
Cincinnati, OH$26,617
Petersburg, VA$26,576
Huntsville, AL$26,535
Lansing, MI$26,516
Lebanon, PA$26,513
Pueblo, CO$26,510
Appleton, WI$26,502
Buffalo, NY$26,491
Dayton, OH$26,483
Racine, WI$26,477
Charlotte, NC$26,474
Saint Louis, MO$26,466
York, PA$26,450
Elkhart, IN$26,450
Gastonia, NC$26,445
Billings, MT$26,438
Beaumont, TX$26,431
Lorain, OH$26,425
Benton Harbor, MI$26,420
Toledo, OH$26,414
Binghamton, NY$26,400
Rock Hill, SC$26,398
Rockford, IL$26,384
Springfield, IL$26,373
Elyria, OH$26,370
Fargo, ND$26,370
Flagstaff, AZ$26,351
Fort Lauderdale, FL$26,335
Duluth, MN$26,318
Miami, FL$26,318
Cheyenne, WY$26,299
Grand Forks, ND$26,299
Bangor, ME$26,239
Cedar Rapids, IA$26,209
Durham, NC$26,197
Louisville, KY$26,195
Grand Rapids, MI$26,189
Hialeah, FL$26,187
Casper, WY$26,148
Scranton, PA$26,116
New Orleans, LA$26,107
Virginia Beach, VA$26,105
Akron, OH$26,091
Peoria, IL$26,055
Sarasota, FL$26,050
Nashville, TN$26,031
Omaha, NE$26,031
Green Bay, WI$26,031
Baton Rouge, LA$26,017
Charleston, SC$26,011
Jamestown, NY$25,998
Davenport, IA$25,998
Tucson, AZ$25,984
Saint Petersburg, FL$25,968
Tampa, FL$25,962
Evansville, IN$25,946
Port Arthur, TX$25,946
Bradenton, FL$25,935
Santa Fe, NM$25,885
Orlando, FL$25,836
Clearwater, FL$25,828
Canton, OH$25,770
La Crosse, WI$25,770
Albuquerque, NM$25,754
Newport News, VA$25,751
High Point, NC$25,743
Ogden, UT$25,732
Corpus Christi, TX$25,710
Norfolk, VA$25,694
Laramie, WY$25,694
Rock Island, IL$25,677
Saginaw, MI$25,672
Jacksonville, FL$25,669
Salisbury, NC$25,664
Boise, ID$25,658
Moline, IL$25,644
Fort Myers, FL$25,636
Memphis, TN$25,631
Tulsa, OK$25,617
Waterloo, IA$25,601
Spartanburg, SC$25,573
Lincoln, NE$25,559
Fort Wayne, IN$25,554
Provo, UT$25,551
Cedar Falls, IA$25,518
San Antonio, TX$25,507
Greensboro, NC$25,496
South Bend, IN$25,494
Savannah, GA$25,464
Muskegon, MI$25,453
Birmingham, AL$25,450
Winston Salem, NC$25,436
Lake Charles, LA$25,370
Anderson, IN$25,365
Lexington, KY$25,357
Augusta, GA$25,349
Greenville, SC$25,349
Lima, OH$25,327
Wichita, KS$25,324
Tuscaloosa, AL$25,324
Columbia, SC$25,299
Springfield, OH$25,294
Asheville, NC$25,250
Bloomington, IN$25,231
Knoxville, TN$25,132
Shreveport, LA$25,129
Wilmington, NC$25,094
Roanoke, VA$25,094
Topeka, KS$25,045
Frankfort, KY$25,041
Oklahoma City, OK$25,023
Chillicothe, OH$25,012
Longview, TX$25,009
Melbourne, FL$25,006
Sioux Falls, SD$24,962
Mobile, AL$24,960
Terre Haute, IN$24,949
Altoona, PA$24,932
Amarillo, TX$24,913
Killeen, TX$24,905
Fayetteville, AR$24,883
Chattanooga, TN$24,875
Sioux City, IA$24,850
Idaho Falls, ID$24,845
Lynchburg, VA$24,823
Gainesville, FL$24,787
Portsmouth, OH$24,773
Little Rock, AR$24,768
Lafayette, LA$24,757
Youngstown, OH$24,757
Daytona Beach, FL$24,740
Clarksville, TN$24,738
Pensacola, FL$24,735
Temple, TX$24,733
Hopkinsville, KY$24,653
Erie, PA$24,647
Florence, SC$24,636
Charleston, WV$24,593
Great Falls, MT$24,579
Macon, GA$24,540
Tallahassee, FL$24,538
Fayetteville, NC$24,532
Waco, TX$24,527
Helena, MT$24,508
Pine Bluff, AR$24,497
Vincennes, IN$24,464
Lubbock, TX$24,453
Alamogordo, NM$24,436
Twin Falls, ID$24,412
Rapid City, SD$24,404
Jackson, MS$24,354
Huntington, WV$24,352
Greenville, MS$24,351
Parkersburg, WV$24,324
Montgomery, AL$24,319
Wichita Falls, TX$24,291
Springfield, MO$24,291
Biloxi, MS$24,278
Monroe, LA$24,250
Johnstown, PA$24,231
Sumter, SC$24,220
Columbus, GA$24,217
Pascagoula, MS$24,165
Abilene, TX$24,165
Kingsport, TN$24,094
Albany, GA$24,094
Gulfport, MS$24,086
Alexandria, LA$23,995
Fort Smith, AR$23,927
El Paso, TX$23,853
Las Cruces, NM$23,730
Harlingen, TX$23,660
Pocatello, ID$23,656
Florence, AL$23,620
Brownsville, TX$23,615
Mcallen, TX$23,557
Dothan, AL$23,519
Columbus, MS$23,356
Altus, OK$23,228
Lawton, OK$23,176
Pierre, SD$23,078
What Skills Can Increase a Fast Food Worker's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Customer Service (Mentioned in 12.76% 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 3.11% 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.
Packaging (Mentioned in 1.57% Job Postings): Preparing products through wrapping or bottling to protect the goods from damages during transportation and storage.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Customer Service
12.76%
Food Handling
3.11%
Packaging
1.57%
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 Fast Food Worker's salary.
Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Accountability: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Initiative
$29,583
8%
Accountability
$29,583
8%
Leadership
$29,309
7%
Team Management
$29,309
7%
Safety Policies and Procedures
$29,309
7%
Cash Handling
$29,036
6%
Get Latest Data
Fast Food Worker Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Fast Food Worker salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $30,638.
While startup companies pay approximate $25,910.
Fast Food Worker Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$25,910
Growth Stage
51~500
$27,404
Established
501~5000
$29,587
Enterprise
5000+
$30,638
Fast Food Worker Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Fast Food Worker roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and MFG Nondurable
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average.
In contrast, Fast Food Worker positions in Financial Services or Pharmaceuticals typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Fast Food Worker as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Fast Food Worker
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities
$38,349
$18.0
40%
MFG Nondurable
$36,979
$18.0
35%
Business Services
$35,610
$17.0
30%
Aerospace & Defense
$34,240
$16.0
25%
Insurance
$32,870
$16.0
20%
Fast Food Worker Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Fast Food Worker'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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$25,166
Average$27,392/year
$29,338
$2,097
Average$2,283/month
$2,445
$484
Average$527/week
$564
$12
Average$13/hour
$14
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$29,338
$2,445
$564
$14
Average
$27,392
$2,283
$527
$13
25th Percentile
$25,166
$2,097
$484
$12
Fast Food Worker Salary Growth & Career Path
Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings.
As a Fast Food Worker, you have the following paths for advancement.
The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles.
By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.
Salaries for a Fast Food Worker can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $30,803 in 2023
to around $30,299 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Fast Food Worker salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Fast Food Worker Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$30,803
2024
$30,654
2025
$30,299
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$30,803
2024
$30,654
2025
$30,299
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Fast Food Worker
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Fast Food Worker
Here are companies hiring for Fast Food Worker and their salaries, click below for more details.
C
$128,509/per year
C R Bard Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
H
$124,697/per year
Henry Schein Canada
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$123,899/per year
Nordex Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$120,416/per year
Nipro Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$115,870/per year
Enovis
Biotechnology
the United States
A
$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy
Biotechnology
the United States
M
$112,110/per year
MiniMed Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug Development
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$110,229/per year
Life Technologies Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
Z
$106,224/per year
Zimmer Biomet
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$103,077/per year
Promontory Therapeutics
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$102,181/per year
Steris PLC
Biotechnology
the United States
G
$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicines
Biotechnology
the United States
R
$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLC
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$94,235/per year
Pleno Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$93,666/per year
Simulaids Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CAS
Biotechnology
the United States
O
$86,468/per year
Onward Technology
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$84,682/per year
Eyeco Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$84,523/per year
Paerosol
Biotechnology
the United States
I
$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$82,815/per year
Stateside PPE
Biotechnology
the United States
D
$82,041/per year
Digi Bio
Biotechnology
the United States
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FAQ about Fast Food Worker
1. Where can a Fast Food Worker earn the most?
A Fast Food Worker'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 Fast Food Worker earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Fast Food Worker is $34,550.
2. What is the highest pay for Fast Food Worker?
The highest pay for Fast Food Worker is $31,110.
3. What is the lowest pay for Fast Food Worker?
The lowest pay for Fast Food Worker is $23,139.
4. What are the responsibilities of Fast Food Worker?
Greets customers, answers questions about menu items, and takes food and drink orders. Enters orders into POS system, collects payments, and maintains cash register in adherence with cash handling policies. Maintains cleanliness and neatness of the restaurant. May assist in preparing customer orders to meet service quality and company standards. May require a high school diploma. Typically reports to a supervisor. 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 Fast Food Worker?
The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Fast Food Worker roles,
with salaries approximately 40% 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.
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