Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $29,170 a year ($14.02 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,350 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,860 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $31,200. Pay here is 2% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $28,570. There are 16 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.63). The average (mean) salary is $30,280, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,590 | $10.86 |
| 25th percentile | $26,620 | $12.80 |
| Median | $29,170 | $14.02 |
| 75th percentile | $35,670 | $17.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,860 | $18.20 |
| Average (mean) | $30,280 | $14.56 |
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 | $2,430.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,215.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,121.92 |
| Weekly | $560.96 |
| Hourly | $14.02 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $29,170 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $29,080 | 12,790 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $28,880 | 27,050 |
| Asheville, NC | $28,810 | 3,850 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $28,780 | 22,520 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $28,640 | 4,900 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $28,200 | 6,790 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $28,170 | 3,130 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $28,070 | 760 |
| Greenville, NC | $28,000 | 1,770 |
| Burlington, NC | $27,710 | 1,480 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $27,580 | 2,930 |
| Wilmington, NC | $27,460 | 5,100 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $27,330 | 1,900 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $27,200 | 880 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $26,850 | 880 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,230 | $16.94 |
| Bartender | $37,110 | $17.84 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,500 | $16.59 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,190 | $14.04 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,150 | $22.19 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,560 | $16.62 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,970 | $18.73 |
| Dishwasher | $33,800 | $16.25 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,440 | $14.16 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,410 | $13.18 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,090 | $31.77 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $34,480 | $16.58 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,040 | $16.85 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $29,170 a year, or $14.02 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,860 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $37,860 a year. The top 25% earn $35,670 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,590 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $26,620 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 5,350 fast food and counter workers are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.