Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $31,260 a year ($15.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 19,170 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,480 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $31,200. Pay here is 3% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $30,390. There are 14 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.58). The average (mean) salary is $32,800, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,470 | $14.17 |
| 25th percentile | $30,780 | $14.80 |
| Median | $31,260 | $15.03 |
| 75th percentile | $34,260 | $16.47 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,480 | $17.54 |
| Average (mean) | $32,800 | $15.77 |
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 | $2,605 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,302.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,202.31 |
| Weekly | $601.15 |
| Hourly | $15.03 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $34,630 | 97,280 |
| Rockford, IL | $31,640 | 3,630 |
| Springfield, IL | $31,350 | 1,760 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $31,300 | 2,890 |
| Kankakee, IL | $31,220 | 1,220 |
| Bloomington, IL | $31,200 | 2,430 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 4,810 |
| Decatur, IL | $31,200 | 970 |
| Peoria, IL | $31,200 | 3,260 |
| 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 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $29,430 | 640 |
| Columbia, MO | $29,390 | 1,410 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $28,730 | 1,130 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $27,640 | 1,160 |
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. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Bartender | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,340 | $16.51 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,860 | $14.84 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,930 | $15.35 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,400 | $15.58 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,200 | $17.40 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dishwasher | $32,180 | $15.47 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,480 | $31.00 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,490 | $18.50 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $28,600 | $13.75 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in St. Louis, MO-IL
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. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $31,260 a year, or $15.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $36,480 a year. The top 25% earn $34,260 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,470 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $30,780 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 19,170 fast food and counter workers are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.