Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Athens-Clarke County, GA
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area earn a median of $24,220 a year ($11.64 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,490 workers.
Pay ranges from $20,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $32,070 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $31,200. Pay here is 10% lower than the Georgia statewide median of $26,920. There are 36 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $25,370, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Athens-Clarke County, GA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,400 | $9.81 |
| 25th percentile | $22,210 | $10.68 |
| Median | $24,220 | $11.64 |
| 75th percentile | $27,870 | $13.40 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $32,070 | $15.42 |
| Average (mean) | $25,370 | $12.20 |
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 | $2,018.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,009.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $931.54 |
| Weekly | $465.77 |
| Hourly | $11.64 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $27,780 | 80,730 |
| Savannah, GA | $27,460 | 5,710 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $27,140 | 7,770 |
| Rome, GA | $26,890 | 1,600 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $26,770 | 1,620 |
| Gainesville, GA | $26,690 | 2,910 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $26,620 | 8,710 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $26,610 | 3,650 |
| Hinesville, GA | $25,210 | 1,030 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $25,000 | 2,920 |
| Dalton, GA | $23,400 | 1,530 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $23,300 | 4,060 |
| Valdosta, GA | $23,100 | 2,380 |
| Albany, GA | $22,830 | 1,790 |
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 Georgia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Athens-Clarke County, GA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $21,090 | $10.14 |
| Bartender | $20,400 | $9.81 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,680 | $15.23 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,060 | $17.82 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $33,540 | $16.12 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,190 | $15.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $25,840 | $12.42 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $24,960 | $12.00 |
| Dishwasher | $27,870 | $13.40 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $33,960 | $16.33 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,120 | $14.96 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $22,020 | $10.59 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $50,330 | $24.20 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Athens-Clarke County, GA
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 Athens-Clarke County, GA?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area is $24,220 a year, or $11.64 an hour. Pay ranges from $20,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $32,070 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in Athens-Clarke County, GA?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area earn at least $32,070 a year. The top 25% earn $27,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in Athens-Clarke County, GA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $20,400 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $22,210 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in Athens-Clarke County, GA?
About 3,490 fast food and counter workers are employed in the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area, not counting the self-employed.