Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median of $33,090 a year ($15.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 21,090 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,150 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $31,200. Pay here is 2% lower than the Maryland statewide median of $33,660. There are 16 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.63). The average (mean) salary is $33,820, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,340 | $15.07 |
| Median | $33,090 | $15.91 |
| 75th percentile | $34,730 | $16.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,150 | $17.38 |
| Average (mean) | $33,820 | $16.26 |
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 | $2,757.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,378.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,272.69 |
| Weekly | $636.35 |
| Hourly | $15.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $33,090 salary, see how much house you can afford in Maryland 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $34,600 | 60,560 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $32,240 | 1,770 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $32,220 | 69,080 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $31,200 | 1,810 |
| Salisbury, MD | $31,200 | 1,590 |
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 Maryland statewide figures.
Related jobs in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| Bartender | $37,360 | $17.96 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,710 | $17.17 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,760 | $18.63 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,420 | $17.99 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,080 | $16.87 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $37,540 | $18.05 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,290 | $16.01 |
| Dishwasher | $33,280 | $16.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $37,390 | $17.98 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,460 | $17.53 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $59,290 | $28.50 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $39,310 | $18.90 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $33,090 a year, or $15.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn at least $36,150 a year. The top 25% earn $34,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $31,340 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
About 21,090 fast food and counter workers are employed in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area, not counting the self-employed.