Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Alabama
Fast Food and Counter Workers in Alabama earn a median of $23,700 a year ($11.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 41,460 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $32,740 for the top 10%. That is 24% lower than the national median of $31,200. Alabama ranks 48th of 51 states for fast food and counter workers pay. There are 20 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $25,600, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Alabama
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,080 | $10.14 |
| 25th percentile | $22,050 | $10.60 |
| Median | $23,700 | $11.40 |
| 75th percentile | $27,840 | $13.39 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $32,740 | $15.74 |
| Average (mean) | $25,600 | $12.31 |
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 | $1,975 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $987.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $911.54 |
| Weekly | $455.77 |
| Hourly | $11.40 |
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 Alabama
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | $27,180 | 5,030 |
| Birmingham, AL | $27,020 | 10,080 |
| Decatur, AL | $25,720 | 1,280 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $24,630 | 2,360 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $24,600 | 2,370 |
| Mobile, AL | $23,510 | 3,160 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $23,300 | 4,060 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $23,000 | 2,240 |
| Montgomery, AL | $22,960 | 3,170 |
| Gadsden, AL | $22,770 | 810 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $22,650 | 1,080 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $22,590 | 1,310 |
| Dothan, AL | $22,360 | 1,200 |
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 Alabama
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $26,840 | $12.91 |
| Bartender | $27,980 | $13.45 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,000 | $13.94 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,870 | $13.40 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,110 | $17.84 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,930 | $13.43 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $32,180 | $15.47 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $27,120 | $13.04 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,130 | $12.56 |
| Dishwasher | $28,930 | $13.91 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $22,470 | $10.80 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,400 | $30.00 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $22,330 | $10.74 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $22,990 | $11.05 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Alabama
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 Alabama?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in Alabama is $23,700 a year, or $11.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $32,740 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in Alabama?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in Alabama earn at least $32,740 a year. The top 25% earn $27,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in Alabama?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,080 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $22,050 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in Alabama?
About 41,460 fast food and counter workers are employed in Alabama, not counting the self-employed.