Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Columbus, GA-AL
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area earn a median of $23,300 a year ($11.20 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,060 workers.
Pay ranges from $19,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $30,670 for the top 10%. That is 25% lower than the national median of $31,200. Pay here is 13% lower than the Georgia statewide median of $26,920. There are 35 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $25,040, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Columbus, GA-AL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $19,580 | $9.41 |
| 25th percentile | $21,850 | $10.51 |
| Median | $23,300 | $11.20 |
| 75th percentile | $27,540 | $13.24 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $30,670 | $14.74 |
| Average (mean) | $25,040 | $12.04 |
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 | $1,941.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $970.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $896.15 |
| Weekly | $448.08 |
| Hourly | $11.20 |
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 |
| Huntsville, AL | $27,180 | 5,030 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $27,140 | 7,770 |
| Birmingham, AL | $27,020 | 10,080 |
| 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 |
| Decatur, AL | $25,720 | 1,280 |
| Hinesville, GA | $25,210 | 1,030 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $25,000 | 2,920 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $24,630 | 2,360 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $24,600 | 2,370 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $24,220 | 3,490 |
| Mobile, AL | $23,510 | 3,160 |
| Dalton, GA | $23,400 | 1,530 |
| Valdosta, GA | $23,100 | 2,380 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $23,000 | 2,240 |
| Montgomery, AL | $22,960 | 3,170 |
| Albany, GA | $22,830 | 1,790 |
| 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 Georgia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbus, GA-AL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $20,800 | $10.00 |
| Bartender | $20,940 | $10.07 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $28,360 | $13.64 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,180 | $17.39 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $30,470 | $14.65 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,030 | $13.96 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,560 | $12.77 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $25,740 | $12.38 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $24,890 | $11.96 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,940 | $15.36 |
| Dishwasher | $28,490 | $13.70 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,920 | $30.25 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $26,370 | $12.68 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Columbus, GA-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 Columbus, GA-AL?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area is $23,300 a year, or $11.20 an hour. Pay ranges from $19,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $30,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in Columbus, GA-AL?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area earn at least $30,670 a year. The top 25% earn $27,540 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in Columbus, GA-AL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $19,580 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $21,850 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in Columbus, GA-AL?
About 4,060 fast food and counter workers are employed in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area, not counting the self-employed.