Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Maryland
Fast Food and Counter Workers in Maryland earn a median of $33,660 a year ($16.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 49,380 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,390 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $31,200. Maryland ranks 15th of 51 states for fast food and counter workers pay. There are 18 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.72). The average (mean) salary is $34,210, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Maryland
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,280 | $15.04 |
| Median | $33,660 | $16.18 |
| 75th percentile | $35,600 | $17.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,390 | $17.98 |
| Average (mean) | $34,210 | $16.45 |
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 | $2,805 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,402.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,294.62 |
| Weekly | $647.31 |
| Hourly | $16.18 |
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 Maryland
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $34,600 | 60,560 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $33,090 | 21,090 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $32,240 | 1,770 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $32,220 | 69,080 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $31,200 | 1,810 |
| Salisbury, MD | $31,200 | 1,590 |
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 Maryland
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| Bartender | $37,580 | $18.07 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,650 | $17.62 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $42,450 | $20.41 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,820 | $18.19 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,500 | $17.07 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,320 | $16.02 |
| Dishwasher | $34,030 | $16.36 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,860 | $16.76 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $37,500 | $18.03 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $41,380 | $19.89 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,800 | $17.69 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,590 | $29.61 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Maryland
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 Maryland?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in Maryland is $33,660 a year, or $16.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in Maryland?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in Maryland earn at least $37,390 a year. The top 25% earn $35,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in Maryland?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $31,280 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in Maryland?
About 49,380 fast food and counter workers are employed in Maryland, not counting the self-employed.