Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn a median of $28,280 a year ($13.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,960 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,990 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $31,200. Pay here is 1% lower than the Wisconsin statewide median of $28,600. There are 23 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $28,540, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,490 | $10.81 |
| 25th percentile | $24,410 | $11.73 |
| Median | $28,280 | $13.59 |
| 75th percentile | $31,390 | $15.09 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,990 | $16.82 |
| Average (mean) | $28,540 | $13.72 |
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 | $2,356.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,178.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,087.69 |
| Weekly | $543.85 |
| Hourly | $13.59 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $28,280 salary, see how much house you can afford in Wisconsin 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $33,040 | 37,920 |
| Rochester, MN | $31,190 | 2,550 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $30,950 | 4,090 |
| Mankato, MN | $30,000 | 1,860 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $29,830 | 5,730 |
| Madison, WI | $29,820 | 9,180 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $29,680 | 2,120 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $29,540 | 1,490 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $29,260 | 2,910 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $29,210 | 1,300 |
| Kenosha, WI | $29,070 | 2,120 |
| Appleton, WI | $29,010 | 3,150 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $28,670 | 2,170 |
| Green Bay, WI | $28,640 | 3,930 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $28,610 | 1,960 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $28,440 | 17,490 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $28,290 | 2,150 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $28,180 | 1,350 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $28,070 | 2,370 |
| Wausau, WI | $27,830 | 1,440 |
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 Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,380 | $13.64 |
| Bartender | $23,130 | $11.12 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,850 | $16.75 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,260 | $17.43 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,900 | $16.78 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $39,050 | $18.77 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,430 | $12.71 |
| Dishwasher | $29,310 | $14.09 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,460 | $13.20 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,590 | $13.74 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $58,300 | $28.03 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,700 | $13.80 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
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 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area is $28,280 a year, or $13.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn at least $34,990 a year. The top 25% earn $31,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,490 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $24,410 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
About 1,960 fast food and counter workers are employed in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.