Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Birmingham, AL
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Birmingham, AL metro area earn a median of $27,020 a year ($12.99 an hour), based on BLS data for 10,080 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $33,990 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $31,200. Pay here is 14% higher than the Alabama statewide median of $23,700. There are 19 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.78). The average (mean) salary is $26,610, close to the median.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Birmingham, AL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,010 | $10.58 |
| 25th percentile | $22,340 | $10.74 |
| Median | $27,020 | $12.99 |
| 75th percentile | $27,980 | $13.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $33,990 | $16.34 |
| Average (mean) | $26,610 | $12.79 |
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 | $2,251.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,125.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,039.23 |
| Weekly | $519.62 |
| Hourly | $12.99 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $27,020 salary, see how much house you can afford in Alabama 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | $27,180 | 5,030 |
| 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 |
See Fast Food and Counter Workers pay in every state or the Alabama statewide figures.
Related jobs in Birmingham, AL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $27,670 | $13.31 |
| Bartender | $30,010 | $14.43 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,370 | $14.60 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,320 | $13.62 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,570 | $18.54 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,260 | $14.07 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,340 | $16.51 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $27,220 | $13.09 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,440 | $12.71 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $23,320 | $11.21 |
| Dishwasher | $29,790 | $14.32 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,760 | $30.17 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $23,160 | $11.14 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $30,840 | $14.83 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Birmingham, AL
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 Birmingham, AL?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in the Birmingham, AL metro area is $27,020 a year, or $12.99 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $33,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in Birmingham, AL?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in the Birmingham, AL metro area earn at least $33,990 a year. The top 25% earn $27,980 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in Birmingham, AL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,010 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 Birmingham, AL?
About 10,080 fast food and counter workers are employed in the Birmingham, AL metro area, not counting the self-employed.