Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Lexington-Fayette, KY
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn a median of $27,990 a year ($13.46 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,500 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,370 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $31,200. Pay here is 3% higher than the Kentucky statewide median of $27,130. 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 $27,810, close to the median.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,170 | $10.66 |
| 25th percentile | $23,710 | $11.40 |
| Median | $27,990 | $13.46 |
| 75th percentile | $30,840 | $14.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,370 | $16.52 |
| Average (mean) | $27,810 | $13.37 |
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 | $2,332.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,166.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,076.54 |
| Weekly | $538.27 |
| Hourly | $13.46 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $27,990 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $29,720 | 30,950 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $28,690 | 15,540 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $27,650 | 2,540 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $27,640 | 1,160 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $27,260 | 1,330 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $26,990 | 4,000 |
| Owensboro, KY | $26,750 | 1,080 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $23,500 | 2,590 |
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 Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,910 | $16.79 |
| Bartender | $30,640 | $14.73 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,430 | $14.63 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,840 | $12.91 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,350 | $17.48 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,340 | $13.14 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,970 | $17.30 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| Dishwasher | $31,110 | $14.96 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,920 | $13.42 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $24,090 | $11.58 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $56,790 | $27.30 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $39,040 | $18.77 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Lexington-Fayette, KY
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 Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area is $27,990 a year, or $13.46 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,370 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn at least $34,370 a year. The top 25% earn $30,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,170 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $23,710 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
About 5,500 fast food and counter workers are employed in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area, not counting the self-employed.