Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in North Carolina
Fast Food and Counter Workers in North Carolina earn a median of $28,570 a year ($13.74 an hour), based on BLS data for 92,230 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,820 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $31,200. North Carolina ranks 35th of 51 states for fast food and counter workers pay. There are 19 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $29,050, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,800 | $10.48 |
| 25th percentile | $23,370 | $11.24 |
| Median | $28,570 | $13.74 |
| 75th percentile | $34,370 | $16.52 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,820 | $17.70 |
| Average (mean) | $29,050 | $13.97 |
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 | $2,380.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,190.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,098.85 |
| Weekly | $549.42 |
| Hourly | $13.74 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $28,570 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 cities in North Carolina
| 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 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $27,580 | 2,930 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Bartender | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,460 | $15.13 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,190 | $13.07 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,400 | $17.02 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,010 | $21.64 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,260 | $14.55 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,320 | $13.62 |
| Dishwasher | $30,340 | $14.59 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,560 | $13.25 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,140 | $17.38 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,130 | $29.39 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $30,160 | $14.50 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,290 | $15.04 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in North Carolina is $28,570 a year, or $13.74 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in North Carolina earn at least $36,820 a year. The top 25% earn $34,370 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,800 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $23,370 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in North Carolina?
About 92,230 fast food and counter workers are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.