Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in California
Fast Food and Counter Workers in California earn a median of $42,280 a year ($20.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 449,840 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,950 for the top 10%. That is 36% higher than the national median of $31,200. California ranks 1st of 51 states for fast food and counter workers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 25 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $41,680, close to the median.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,530 | $17.08 |
| 25th percentile | $36,790 | $17.69 |
| Median | $42,280 | $20.33 |
| 75th percentile | $44,970 | $21.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| Average (mean) | $41,680 | $20.04 |
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 | $3,523.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,761.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,626.15 |
| Weekly | $813.08 |
| Hourly | $20.33 |
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 cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | $45,410 | 1,440 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $44,570 | 23,060 |
| Vallejo, CA | $44,110 | 4,430 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $43,870 | 49,970 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $43,610 | 4,720 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $43,400 | 3,220 |
| Salinas, CA | $43,260 | 4,180 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $42,940 | 5,930 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $42,860 | 24,910 |
| Modesto, CA | $42,630 | 6,700 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $42,370 | 9,520 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $42,350 | 3,310 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $42,280 | 51,310 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $42,190 | 42,550 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $42,110 | 160,270 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $42,060 | 1,610 |
| Yuba City, CA | $42,040 | 1,630 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $41,740 | 7,560 |
| Fresno, CA | $39,480 | 12,330 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $39,470 | 9,180 |
| Redding, CA | $39,160 | 1,930 |
| El Centro, CA | $38,840 | 1,630 |
| Visalia, CA | $38,600 | 4,850 |
| Chico, CA | $38,210 | 2,630 |
| Merced, CA | $38,200 | 2,500 |
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 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| Bartender | $36,220 | $17.41 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $39,010 | $18.75 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,980 | $22.59 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $42,050 | $20.21 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,350 | $18.92 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,010 | $17.31 |
| Dishwasher | $37,870 | $18.21 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,640 | $17.62 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,500 | $31.01 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,390 | $22.31 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,930 | $20.64 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,910 | $17.75 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in California is $42,280 a year, or $20.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in California?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in California earn at least $47,950 a year. The top 25% earn $44,970 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,530 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $36,790 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in California?
About 449,840 fast food and counter workers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.