Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in St. Joseph, MO-KS
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area earn a median of $29,430 a year ($14.15 an hour), based on BLS data for 640 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,360 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $31,200. Pay here is 3% lower than the Missouri statewide median of $30,390. There are 12 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.48). The average (mean) salary is $30,720, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in St. Joseph, MO-KS
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| 25th percentile | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Median | $29,430 | $14.15 |
| 75th percentile | $31,620 | $15.20 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Average (mean) | $30,720 | $14.77 |
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 | $2,452.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,226.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,131.92 |
| Weekly | $565.96 |
| Hourly | $14.15 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $31,260 | 19,170 |
| Springfield, MO | $29,950 | 2,560 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $29,810 | 520 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $29,580 | 520 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $29,560 | 20,120 |
| Columbia, MO | $29,390 | 1,410 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $28,730 | 1,130 |
| Lawrence, KS | $28,320 | 2,880 |
| Topeka, KS | $27,810 | 3,260 |
| Wichita, KS | $27,420 | 11,580 |
| Manhattan, KS | $27,130 | 2,190 |
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 Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Joseph, MO-KS
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,490 | $14.66 |
| Bartender | $29,000 | $13.94 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,210 | $14.52 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,620 | $14.24 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $28,960 | $13.92 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,900 | $17.74 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,560 | $17.09 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,070 | $16.38 |
| Dishwasher | $30,550 | $14.69 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,460 | $14.16 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,600 | $13.75 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in St. Joseph, MO-KS
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 St. Joseph, MO-KS?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area is $29,430 a year, or $14.15 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in St. Joseph, MO-KS?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area earn at least $35,360 a year. The top 25% earn $31,620 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in St. Joseph, MO-KS?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,600 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $28,600 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in St. Joseph, MO-KS?
About 640 fast food and counter workers are employed in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area, not counting the self-employed.