Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Wilmington, NC
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn a median of $27,460 a year ($13.20 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,100 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,030 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $31,200. Pay here is 4% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $28,570. There are 27 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $28,200, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Wilmington, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,530 | $10.35 |
| 25th percentile | $22,340 | $10.74 |
| Median | $27,460 | $13.20 |
| 75th percentile | $33,540 | $16.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,030 | $17.80 |
| Average (mean) | $28,200 | $13.56 |
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 | $2,288.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,144.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,056.15 |
| Weekly | $528.08 |
| Hourly | $13.20 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $29,170 | 5,350 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $29,080 | 12,790 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $28,880 | 27,050 |
| Asheville, NC | $28,810 | 3,850 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $28,780 | 22,520 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $28,640 | 4,900 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $28,200 | 6,790 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $28,170 | 3,130 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $28,070 | 760 |
| Greenville, NC | $28,000 | 1,770 |
| Burlington, NC | $27,710 | 1,480 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $27,580 | 2,930 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $27,330 | 1,900 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $27,200 | 880 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $26,850 | 880 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Wilmington, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,610 | $14.72 |
| Bartender | $37,890 | $18.22 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,810 | $16.74 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,500 | $13.22 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,940 | $16.80 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,360 | $21.33 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,830 | $15.30 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,250 | $13.58 |
| Dishwasher | $29,870 | $14.36 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,320 | $13.14 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,050 | $17.33 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $30,350 | $14.59 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $58,120 | $27.94 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,620 | $14.24 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Wilmington, NC
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 Wilmington, NC?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $27,460 a year, or $13.20 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,030 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in Wilmington, NC?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn at least $37,030 a year. The top 25% earn $33,540 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in Wilmington, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,530 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $22,340 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in Wilmington, NC?
About 5,100 fast food and counter workers are employed in the Wilmington, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.