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Server (fast food and counter): pay, job outlook and how to get started

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$31,200median pay per year, or $15.00 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $22,840lowest 10% earn less
  2. $27,70025th percentile
  3. $31,200median
  4. $36,07075th percentile
  5. $42,650top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Fast food and counter workers had a median pay of $31,200 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 5.8% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+5.8%[2]
Openings per year
827,400[6]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[7]

How much do fast food and counter workers make?

BLS groups fast food and counter workers into one category. O*NET lists Cafe Server and Food Server among sample job titles for this occupation[8], and the numbers below are for this BLS category only.

The median wage was $31,200 a year, or $15.00 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean (average) was $32,150 a year, or $15.46 an hour[9]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[5].

Point in the range Annual wage Source
10th percentile[4] $22,840
25th percentile[4] $27,700
Median[1] $31,200
75th percentile[4] $36,070
90th percentile[4] $42,650

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $22,840[4]. A percentile is a boundary line, and BLS publishes percentiles rather than a starting salary[10]. In hourly terms, the 10th percentile was $10.98 and the 90th was $20.51[11].

These figures cover wage and salary workers, part time and full time. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[12].

Pay by state and city

California had the highest median wage among states at $42,280, followed by Washington at $37,710 and the District of Columbia at $37,430[13]. Colorado ($36,270) and Vermont ($36,030) came next[13].

Texas had the most jobs at 460,530, with California close behind at 449,840[14]. Florida (235,400), New York (168,620) and Ohio (163,560) followed[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Napa, CA had the highest median at $45,410, followed by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $44,570 and Vallejo, CA at $44,110[15]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs at 166,040, just ahead of Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim at 160,270[16].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[13]$42,280449,840
Washington$37,71094,710
District of Columbia$37,4305,500
Colorado$36,27082,010
Vermont$36,0306,830
Massachusetts$35,85085,810
Connecticut$35,38035,720
Hawaii$35,25024,130
New York$35,250168,620
Oregon$35,05059,920
Maine$34,71017,250
Arizona$34,23077,210
New Jersey$34,15093,730
Illinois$33,910127,590
Maryland$33,66049,380
Alaska$33,2805,900
Nevada$31,95045,850
New Hampshire$31,59014,540
Rhode Island$31,49013,310
Minnesota$31,37058,970
Delaware$31,30013,310
Missouri$30,39029,360
Virginia$30,110104,460
North Dakota$30,08011,470
South Dakota$29,49015,150
Montana$29,09014,960
Florida$29,080235,400
Nebraska$29,00030,060
Idaho$28,94025,810
Michigan$28,930103,130
Indiana$28,79097,290
New Mexico$28,70028,250
Utah$28,67052,340
Wisconsin$28,60067,750
North Carolina$28,57092,230
Pennsylvania$28,570142,220
Ohio$28,430163,560
Iowa$28,39040,290
Wyoming$27,8607,060
Texas$27,740460,530
Kansas$27,58047,140
South Carolina$27,52065,070
Tennessee$27,47090,690
Kentucky$27,13041,860
Georgia$26,920145,030
Arkansas$26,25035,660
West Virginia$26,0706,240
Alabama$23,70041,460
Oklahoma$23,43052,520
Louisiana$22,80045,720
Mississippi$22,61031,220

How to get a fast food or counter job

The Occupational Outlook Handbook profile used for training details covers a wider group, food and beverage serving and related workers[17].

In an O*NET survey of 37 workers, 56% said less than a high school diploma is required, 24% said a high school diploma or equivalent and 17% said some college courses[21].

Where alcohol is served, workers may need training on state and local sales laws. Some places require it, and it typically lasts a few hours[22]. The handbook also says most states require workers who serve alcohol to be at least 18[23].

In the wider handbook group, some workers move up to waiter, waitress or bartender jobs, and others to supervisory roles[24].

What fast food and counter workers do

O*NET describes the job as taking orders and serving food and drinks, often at a counter. Workers may take payment and may prepare food and drinks[25]. Common tasks include:

Sample job titles reported by workers include Counter Worker, Food Server, Cafeteria Worker and Food Service Worker[8].

Where they work

In the wider handbook group, food services and drinking places employed 81% of workers in 2025[27]. Workers spend most of a shift on their feet, and busy periods bring pressure to serve customers fast[28]. Slips, cuts and burns are common injuries[29].

Part-time work is common, and shifts can start early in the morning, end late in the evening or fall on weekends and holidays[30]. Some work is seasonal[31]. The handbook says this occupation group employs more 16- to 19-year-olds than any other[32]. Only 0.1% of fast food and counter workers were self-employed in 2025[33].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 5.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 3,855,900 to 4,079,100 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[3].

About 827,400 openings a year are projected on average[6]. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 8.9% of workers leave the labor force and 11.4% move to a different occupation[34].

Is it a good fit?

The job has low barriers to entry, with no formal education and short on-the-job training[7][19]. Pay is below the all-occupations median, and it varies by state[1][5][13]. The work is physical, and schedules often include evenings, weekends and holidays[35][30]. Growth is above the all-occupations rate, and openings are plentiful[2][3][6].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[36].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a fast food worker make an hour?
The median was $15.00 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $15.46[1][9].
Do you need a degree to work in fast food?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry level[7].
How long is training for a counter worker?
BLS lists short-term on-the-job training[7]. The handbook says it may last from a few days to several weeks[19].
Are fast food jobs in demand?
BLS projects 5.8% growth from 2025 to 2035 and about 827,400 openings a year[2][6].
What is the highest paying state for fast food workers?
California had the highest median wage at $42,280 in May 2025[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers in the US was $31,200 per year and $15.00 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Fast Food and Counter Workers is projected to grow 5.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 3,855,900 to 4,079,100 jobs (a change of +223,300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Fast Food and Counter Workers: 10th percentile $22,840, 25th percentile $27,700, 75th percentile $36,070, 90th percentile $42,650. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 827,400 openings for Fast Food and Counter Workers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Fast Food and Counter Workers: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. O*NET 35-3023.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Cafe Server, Cafeteria Server, Cafeteria Worker, Counter Worker, Deli Worker (Delicatessen Worker), Dietary Aide, Food Server, Food Service Worker. O*NET OnLine
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers was $32,150 per year and $15.46 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Fast Food and Counter Workers: 10th percentile $10.98, 25th percentile $13.32, 75th percentile $17.34, 90th percentile $20.51. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Fast Food and Counter Workers jobs: Texas 460,530; California 449,840; Florida 235,400; New York 168,620; Ohio 163,560. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Napa, CA $45,410; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $44,570; Vallejo, CA $44,110; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $43,870; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $43,610; Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $43,400; Salinas, CA $43,260; Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $42,940. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Fast Food and Counter Workers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 166,040 (median $35,420); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 160,270 (median $42,110); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 128,380 (median $28,070); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 105,810 (median $27,570); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 97,280 (median $34,630); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 80,730 (median $27,780). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers" covers Fast Food and Counter Workers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET 35-3023.00 survey of workers (37 respondents), education level they say is required: Less than a High School Diploma 56%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 24%, Some College Courses 17% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET description of Fast Food and Counter Workers. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET task list for Fast Food and Counter Workers. O*NET OnLine
  27. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of food and beverage serving and related workers in 2025: Food services and drinking places 81%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Employment Projections: 0.1% of Fast Food and Counter Workers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Fast Food and Counter Workers: 8.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 11.4% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.