Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in El Centro, CA
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the El Centro, CA metro area earn a median of $38,840 a year ($18.68 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,630 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,820 for the top 10%. That is 24% higher than the national median of $31,200. Pay here is 8% lower than the California statewide median of $42,280. There are 25 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $39,920, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in El Centro, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,530 | $16.60 |
| 25th percentile | $36,340 | $17.47 |
| Median | $38,840 | $18.68 |
| 75th percentile | $42,560 | $20.46 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,820 | $22.03 |
| Average (mean) | $39,920 | $19.19 |
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 | $3,236.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,618.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,493.85 |
| Weekly | $746.92 |
| Hourly | $18.68 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Fast Food and Counter Workers pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in El Centro, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Bartender | $34,620 | $16.64 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,590 | $17.11 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,600 | $21.92 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,710 | $18.13 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $40,230 | $19.34 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,610 | $18.56 |
| Dishwasher | $34,990 | $16.82 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $40,980 | $19.70 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in El Centro, CA
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 El Centro, CA?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in the El Centro, CA metro area is $38,840 a year, or $18.68 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in El Centro, CA?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in the El Centro, CA metro area earn at least $45,820 a year. The top 25% earn $42,560 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in El Centro, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,530 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $36,340 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in El Centro, CA?
About 1,630 fast food and counter workers are employed in the El Centro, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.