Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Virginia
Fast Food and Counter Workers in Virginia earn a median of $30,110 a year ($14.48 an hour), based on BLS data for 104,460 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,550 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $31,200. Virginia ranks 23rd of 51 states for fast food and counter workers pay. There are 25 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $31,930, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,130 | $13.04 |
| 25th percentile | $28,230 | $13.57 |
| Median | $30,110 | $14.48 |
| 75th percentile | $34,650 | $16.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,550 | $18.05 |
| Average (mean) | $31,930 | $15.35 |
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 | $2,509.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,254.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,158.08 |
| Weekly | $579.04 |
| Hourly | $14.48 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $30,110 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $34,600 | 60,560 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $30,150 | 2,800 |
| Richmond, VA | $29,500 | 17,100 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $29,310 | 1,470 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $29,240 | 2,590 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $28,780 | 22,520 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $28,360 | 1,700 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $28,300 | 2,230 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $28,220 | 3,280 |
| Roanoke, VA | $27,720 | 3,610 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $26,890 | 4,170 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $44,760 | $21.52 |
| Bartender | $47,070 | $22.63 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,550 | $21.90 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,900 | $16.78 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| Dishwasher | $33,130 | $15.93 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $32,410 | $15.58 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,890 | $18.22 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,490 | $14.66 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,270 | $30.42 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,870 | $17.25 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in Virginia is $30,110 a year, or $14.48 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in Virginia?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in Virginia earn at least $37,550 a year. The top 25% earn $34,650 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,130 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $28,230 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in Virginia?
About 104,460 fast food and counter workers are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.