Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area earn a median of $28,050 a year ($13.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,380 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,630 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $31,200. Pay here is 4% lower than the Florida statewide median of $29,080. There are 28 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $29,540, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,060 | $13.01 |
| 25th percentile | $27,490 | $13.22 |
| Median | $28,050 | $13.49 |
| 75th percentile | $29,500 | $14.18 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,630 | $16.65 |
| Average (mean) | $29,540 | $14.20 |
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 | $2,337.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,168.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,078.85 |
| Weekly | $539.42 |
| Hourly | $13.49 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $28,050 salary, see how much house you can afford in Florida 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $33,830 | 3,920 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $30,000 | 8,330 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $29,600 | 56,900 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $29,360 | 7,260 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $29,260 | 33,910 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $29,220 | 4,350 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $29,130 | 4,690 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | $29,100 | 1,570 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $28,810 | 930 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $28,720 | 1,110 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $28,660 | 7,240 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $28,660 | 7,630 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $28,620 | 34,830 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $28,470 | 21,480 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $28,360 | 6,970 |
| Gainesville, FL | $28,280 | 4,780 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $28,050 | 3,030 |
| Ocala, FL | $27,880 | 3,340 |
| Sebring, FL | $27,790 | 1,120 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $27,600 | 5,600 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $27,240 | 1,080 |
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 Florida statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,270 | $16.96 |
| Bartender | $33,920 | $16.31 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,670 | $16.19 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,600 | $17.12 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,610 | $16.64 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,250 | $17.43 |
| Dishwasher | $29,190 | $14.03 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,140 | $14.01 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,500 | $13.70 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $50,720 | $24.39 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,320 | $16.98 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $34,930 | $16.79 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
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 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area is $28,050 a year, or $13.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area earn at least $34,630 a year. The top 25% earn $29,500 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,060 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $27,490 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
About 7,380 fast food and counter workers are employed in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area, not counting the self-employed.