Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Albuquerque, NM
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Albuquerque, NM metro area earn a median of $29,140 a year ($14.01 an hour), based on BLS data for 14,510 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,720 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $31,200. Pay here is 2% higher than the New Mexico statewide median of $28,700. There are 36 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $30,780, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Albuquerque, NM
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,160 | $13.54 |
| 25th percentile | $28,550 | $13.73 |
| Median | $29,140 | $14.01 |
| 75th percentile | $29,920 | $14.39 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,720 | $17.66 |
| Average (mean) | $30,780 | $14.80 |
Half of fast food and counter workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,428.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,214.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,120.77 |
| Weekly | $560.38 |
| Hourly | $14.01 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe, NM | $30,810 | 1,950 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $27,560 | 2,870 |
| Farmington, NM | $27,420 | 1,730 |
Highest-paying states for fast food and counter workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $42,280 |
| Washington | $37,710 |
| District of Columbia | $37,430 |
| Colorado | $36,270 |
| Vermont | $36,030 |
| Massachusetts | $35,850 |
| Connecticut | $35,380 |
| Hawaii | $35,250 |
| New York | $35,250 |
| Oregon | $35,050 |
See Fast Food and Counter Workers pay in every state or the New Mexico statewide figures.
Related jobs in Albuquerque, NM
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $38,050 | $18.29 |
| Bartender | $37,400 | $17.98 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,160 | $16.90 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,190 | $16.92 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,270 | $18.40 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,380 | $16.53 |
| Dishwasher | $31,540 | $15.16 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,360 | $14.60 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,480 | $13.69 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,740 | $18.14 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,720 | $14.77 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,040 | $28.87 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,860 | $18.68 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,890 | $17.74 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Albuquerque, NM
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3023. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter workers make in Albuquerque, NM?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in the Albuquerque, NM metro area is $29,140 a year, or $14.01 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in Albuquerque, NM?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in the Albuquerque, NM metro area earn at least $36,720 a year. The top 25% earn $29,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in Albuquerque, NM?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,160 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $28,550 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in Albuquerque, NM?
About 14,510 fast food and counter workers are employed in the Albuquerque, NM metro area, not counting the self-employed.