How much does a fast food worker make?
Answer: A typical fast food worker in the United States makes $31,200 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 3.9 million people work in this job. Below the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Fast food worker pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $22,840 | $31,200 | $42,650 | about 3.9 million |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $42,280 | about 450,000 |
| Washington | $37,710 | about 95,000 |
| District of Columbia | $37,430 | about 6,000 |
| Colorado | $36,270 | about 82,000 |
| Vermont | $36,030 | about 7,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience and skill, location, employer type, and how much responsibility the job includes. The number of hours worked also changes total earnings.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a fast food worker do?
Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages. Counter attendants who also wait tables are included in “Waiters and Waitresses” (35-3031),
What's a typical day like?
They greet customers, take orders and payments, then prepare or hand out sandwiches, drinks, and other food. Between busy periods, they restock supplies, wash dishes, and clean counters and kitchen areas.
How to get this job
In the U.S., no diploma or experience is usually needed; federal rules generally allow work from age 14, but teen hours and tasks are limited. New workers learn customer service, food safety, and kitchen jobs through short on-the-job training.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like keeping things organized and building and doing.
Did you know?
BLS projects fast food and counter workers to have more job openings each year than any other U.S. occupation in 2024–34—about 904,300 a year.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Food Preparation and Serving jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/food-preparation-and-serving/print/food-and-beverage-serving-and
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/35-3023.00
- www.dol.gov/general/topic/youthlabor/agerequirements
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2025/article/education-level-and-openings-2024-34.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY