Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Salinas, CA
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Salinas, CA metro area earn a median of $43,260 a year ($20.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,180 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,790 for the top 10%. That is 39% higher than the national median of $31,200. Pay here is 2% higher than the California statewide median of $42,280. There are 22 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $41,880, close to the median.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Salinas, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,290 | $16.97 |
| 25th percentile | $36,780 | $17.68 |
| Median | $43,260 | $20.80 |
| 75th percentile | $45,300 | $21.78 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,790 | $22.49 |
| Average (mean) | $41,880 | $20.13 |
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 | $3,605 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,802.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,663.85 |
| Weekly | $831.92 |
| Hourly | $20.80 |
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 |
| 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 |
| El Centro, CA | $38,840 | 1,630 |
| 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 Salinas, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| Bartender | $36,350 | $17.48 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $38,660 | $18.59 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,930 | $21.60 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,220 | $23.18 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,480 | $18.50 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,600 | $17.11 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $43,120 | $20.73 |
| Dishwasher | $37,350 | $17.96 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,380 | $17.49 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $72,440 | $34.83 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,820 | $22.51 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,440 | $17.52 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $40,550 | $19.49 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Salinas, 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 Salinas, CA?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in the Salinas, CA metro area is $43,260 a year, or $20.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in Salinas, CA?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in the Salinas, CA metro area earn at least $46,790 a year. The top 25% earn $45,300 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in Salinas, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,290 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $36,780 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in Salinas, CA?
About 4,180 fast food and counter workers are employed in the Salinas, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.