Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in New Jersey
Fast Food and Counter Workers in New Jersey earn a median of $34,150 a year ($16.42 an hour), based on BLS data for 93,730 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,130 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $31,200. New Jersey ranks 13th of 51 states for fast food and counter workers pay. There are 22 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $35,110, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| 25th percentile | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| Median | $34,150 | $16.42 |
| 75th percentile | $36,150 | $17.38 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,130 | $18.81 |
| Average (mean) | $35,110 | $16.88 |
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 | $2,845.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,422.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,313.46 |
| Weekly | $656.73 |
| Hourly | $16.42 |
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 New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $35,420 | 166,040 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $34,720 | 4,300 |
| Vineland, NJ | $33,550 | 1,800 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $33,270 | 5,510 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $32,220 | 69,080 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $29,090 | 9,110 |
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 New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $44,960 | $21.62 |
| Bartender | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,390 | $17.50 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,420 | $23.28 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,170 | $16.43 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,050 | $16.37 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $74,280 | $35.71 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,520 | $21.40 |
| Dishwasher | $35,900 | $17.26 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,290 | $17.45 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $40,720 | $19.58 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in New Jersey
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in New Jersey is $34,150 a year, or $16.42 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in New Jersey earn at least $39,130 a year. The top 25% earn $36,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,220 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $32,220 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in New Jersey?
About 93,730 fast food and counter workers are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.