Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Ohio
Fast Food and Counter Workers in Ohio earn a median of $28,430 a year ($13.67 an hour), based on BLS data for 163,560 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,920 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $31,200. Ohio ranks 37th of 51 states for fast food and counter workers pay. There are 29 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $28,900, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Ohio
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,200 | $11.16 |
| 25th percentile | $26,800 | $12.89 |
| Median | $28,430 | $13.67 |
| 75th percentile | $29,930 | $14.39 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,920 | $16.79 |
| Average (mean) | $28,900 | $13.90 |
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 | $2,369.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,184.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,093.46 |
| Weekly | $546.73 |
| Hourly | $13.67 |
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 Ohio
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $29,720 | 30,950 |
| Cleveland, OH | $28,750 | 28,010 |
| Akron, OH | $28,690 | 9,480 |
| Columbus, OH | $28,670 | 31,590 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $27,760 | 6,020 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $27,680 | 11,860 |
| Sandusky, OH | $27,590 | 2,070 |
| Toledo, OH | $27,570 | 9,280 |
| Springfield, OH | $27,490 | 1,990 |
| Lima, OH | $27,320 | 1,830 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $26,950 | 6,460 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $26,820 | 740 |
| Mansfield, OH | $26,790 | 1,610 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $26,150 | 1,300 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $23,500 | 2,590 |
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 Ohio
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,700 | $17.65 |
| Bartender | $30,880 | $14.84 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,440 | $14.63 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,340 | $17.95 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,720 | $17.65 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,530 | $16.60 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,550 | $13.25 |
| Dishwasher | $29,520 | $14.19 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,400 | $14.14 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,870 | $12.92 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,290 | $14.08 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $53,990 | $25.96 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $27,540 | $13.24 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Ohio
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 Ohio?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in Ohio is $28,430 a year, or $13.67 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,920 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in Ohio?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in Ohio earn at least $34,920 a year. The top 25% earn $29,930 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in Ohio?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,200 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $26,800 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in Ohio?
About 163,560 fast food and counter workers are employed in Ohio, not counting the self-employed.