Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area earn a median of $34,060 a year ($16.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,190 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,690 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $31,200. Pay here is 3% lower than the New York statewide median of $35,250. There are 16 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.65). The average (mean) salary is $35,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,240 | $15.50 |
| 25th percentile | $32,950 | $15.84 |
| Median | $34,060 | $16.38 |
| 75th percentile | $36,030 | $17.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,690 | $19.08 |
| Average (mean) | $35,480 | $17.06 |
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 | $2,838.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,419.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,310 |
| Weekly | $655 |
| Hourly | $16.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $34,060 salary, see how much house you can afford in New York at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kingston, NY | $35,460 | 1,440 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $35,420 | 166,040 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $35,320 | 6,280 |
| Ithaca, NY | $34,800 | 870 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $34,560 | 14,170 |
| Syracuse, NY | $33,940 | 6,750 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $33,890 | 980 |
| Rochester, NY | $33,430 | 11,310 |
| Binghamton, NY | $33,280 | 2,440 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $33,080 | 2,260 |
| Elmira, NY | $32,950 | 880 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $32,580 | 1,150 |
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 New York statewide figures.
Related jobs in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $48,980 | $23.55 |
| Bartender | $47,370 | $22.78 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,550 | $17.09 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $39,610 | $19.04 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,330 | $21.79 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,460 | $17.53 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,260 | $17.43 |
| Dishwasher | $34,580 | $16.63 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,520 | $16.59 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $43,550 | $20.94 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,560 | $16.61 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $32,240 | $15.50 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $84,430 | $40.59 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
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 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area is $34,060 a year, or $16.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,690 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area earn at least $39,690 a year. The top 25% earn $36,030 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,240 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $32,950 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY?
About 7,190 fast food and counter workers are employed in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.