Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Pennsylvania
Fast Food and Counter Workers in Pennsylvania earn a median of $28,570 a year ($13.74 an hour), based on BLS data for 142,220 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,880 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $31,200. Pennsylvania ranks 36th of 51 states for fast food and counter workers pay. There are 23 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $28,930, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,030 | $10.59 |
| 25th percentile | $24,440 | $11.75 |
| Median | $28,570 | $13.74 |
| 75th percentile | $32,310 | $15.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,880 | $17.25 |
| Average (mean) | $28,930 | $13.91 |
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 | $2,380.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,190.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,098.85 |
| Weekly | $549.42 |
| Hourly | $13.74 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $32,220 | 69,080 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $29,090 | 9,110 |
| Lancaster, PA | $28,580 | 6,870 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $28,250 | 27,460 |
| Lebanon, PA | $28,200 | 1,490 |
| Reading, PA | $28,090 | 4,280 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $28,070 | 8,030 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $27,920 | 5,240 |
| State College, PA | $27,790 | 2,320 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $27,590 | 920 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $27,550 | 1,580 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $27,520 | 6,450 |
| Williamsport, PA | $27,400 | 1,410 |
| Erie, PA | $26,540 | 3,510 |
| Altoona, PA | $26,090 | 1,800 |
| Johnstown, PA | $24,750 | 1,380 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,690 | $16.68 |
| Bartender | $28,420 | $13.66 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,300 | $16.01 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,580 | $17.59 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,050 | $20.70 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,310 | $14.09 |
| Dishwasher | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,170 | $14.02 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,840 | $14.83 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,810 | $13.85 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,860 | $30.70 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $19,910 | $9.57 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $33,040 | $15.89 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in Pennsylvania is $28,570 a year, or $13.74 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in Pennsylvania earn at least $35,880 a year. The top 25% earn $32,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,030 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $24,440 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in Pennsylvania?
About 142,220 fast food and counter workers are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.