Fast Food and Counter Workers pay range in Columbus
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $19,580 a year or less, while the top 10% make $30,670 or more. The middle half of fast food and counter workers in Columbus earn between $21,850 and $27,540.
- $20K10th
- $22K25th
- $23KMedian
- $28K75th
- $31K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $25,040 | $2,087 | $12.04 |
| Median | $23,300 | $1,942 | $11.20 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $21,850 | $1,821 | $10.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $27,540 | $2,295 | $13.24 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Fast Food and Counter Workers pay in Columbus vs. Georgia and the U.S.
Fast food and counter workers in Columbus earn 8% less than the Georgia average ($27,290) and 22% less than the U.S. average ($32,150). At the median the gap is -25% against the U.S. median of $31,200.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $25,040 | $23,300 | $19,580 | $30,670 | 4,060 |
| Georgia | $27,290 | $26,920 | $20,910 | $36,110 | 145,030 |
| 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 Columbus
On the average salary of $25,040, a single filer in Columbus takes home about $21,729 a year, or $1,811 a month and $836 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
The Columbus, GA-AL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in GA | $21,729 | $1,811 |
| Working in AL | $21,288 | $1,774 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbus a good place for fast food and counter workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbus area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.3), so the average $25,040 buys what about $28,042 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbus ($43,540). A typical home costs $209,527, or 8.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in other Georgia cities
Columbus ranks 13th of 14 Georgia metro areas for this job; Atlanta pays the most ($28,340).
- Atlanta$28,340
- Savannah$28,080
- Warner Robins$27,510
- Gainesville$27,230
- Brunswick$26,790
- Augusta$26,450
- Rome$26,140
- Hinesville$25,590
- Macon$25,460
- Columbus$25,040
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
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Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Columbus: questions
How much do fast food and counter workers make an hour in Columbus?
$12.04 an hour on average, and $11.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level fast food and counter workers salary in Columbus?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $19,580 a year and the 25th percentile is $21,850, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the fast food and counter workers take-home pay in Columbus?
About $21,729 a year ($1,811 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $25,040.
Do fast food and counter workers earn more in Columbus than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% less 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 Columbus, GA-AL (17980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.41, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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