Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn a median of $27,580 a year ($13.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,930 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,170 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $31,200. Pay here is 3% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $28,570. There are 19 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.77). The average (mean) salary is $28,240, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,340 | $10.26 |
| 25th percentile | $23,090 | $11.10 |
| Median | $27,580 | $13.26 |
| 75th percentile | $33,280 | $16.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| Average (mean) | $28,240 | $13.58 |
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 | $2,298.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,149.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,060.77 |
| Weekly | $530.38 |
| Hourly | $13.26 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $27,580 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $29,170 | 5,350 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $29,080 | 12,790 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $28,880 | 27,050 |
| Asheville, NC | $28,810 | 3,850 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $28,780 | 22,520 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $28,640 | 4,900 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $28,200 | 6,790 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $28,170 | 3,130 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $28,070 | 760 |
| Greenville, NC | $28,000 | 1,770 |
| Burlington, NC | $27,710 | 1,480 |
| Wilmington, NC | $27,460 | 5,100 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $27,330 | 1,900 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $27,200 | 880 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $26,850 | 880 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,310 | $14.09 |
| Bartender | $31,860 | $15.32 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,370 | $15.08 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,550 | $13.25 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $30,380 | $14.60 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $41,780 | $20.09 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,680 | $13.31 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,110 | $13.03 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,130 | $16.89 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,940 | $12.95 |
| Dishwasher | $28,980 | $13.93 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $29,150 | $14.01 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $59,480 | $28.60 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,230 | $14.05 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $27,580 a year, or $13.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn at least $36,170 a year. The top 25% earn $33,280 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,340 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $23,090 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
About 2,930 fast food and counter workers are employed in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.