Fast Food and Counter Workers pay range in Salinas
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,290 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,790 or more. The middle half of fast food and counter workers in Salinas earn between $36,780 and $45,300.
- $35K10th
- $37K25th
- $43KMedian
- $45K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,880 | $3,490 | $20.13 |
| Median | $43,260 | $3,605 | $20.80 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,780 | $3,065 | $17.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $45,300 | $3,775 | $21.78 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Fast Food and Counter Workers pay in Salinas vs. California and the U.S.
Fast food and counter workers in Salinas earn about the same as the California average ($41,680) and 30% more than the U.S. average ($32,150). At the median the gap is +39% against the U.S. median of $31,200.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas | $41,880 | $43,260 | $35,290 | $46,790 | 4,180 |
| California | $41,680 | $42,280 | $35,530 | $47,950 | 449,840 |
| United States | $32,150 | $31,200 | $22,840 | $42,650 | 3,854,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary after taxes in Salinas
On the average salary of $41,880, a single filer in Salinas takes home about $35,020 a year, or $2,918 a month and $1,347 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Salinas a good place for fast food and counter workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salinas area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.0), so the average $41,880 buys what about $38,407 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Salinas ($47,380). A typical home costs $850,461, or 20.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in other California cities
Salinas ranks 6th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($44,980).
- San Jose$44,980
- San Francisco$44,620
- Napa$44,010
- Vallejo$42,760
- Santa Rosa$42,640
- Salinas$41,880
- Sacramento$41,850
- Modesto$41,600
- Santa Cruz$41,580
- Oxnard$41,340
Highest-paying cities for fast food and counter workers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($44,980).
- San Jose, CA$44,980
- San Francisco, CA$44,620
- Napa, CA$44,010
- Vallejo, CA$42,760
- Santa Rosa, CA$42,640
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Salinas: questions
How much do fast food and counter workers make an hour in Salinas?
$20.13 an hour on average, and $20.80 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level fast food and counter workers salary in Salinas?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,290 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,780, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the fast food and counter workers take-home pay in Salinas?
About $35,020 a year ($2,918 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,880. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do fast food and counter workers earn more in Salinas than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% more than the U.S. average for this job ($32,150).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3023; area Salinas, CA (41500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.90, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.