Fast Food and Counter Workers pay range in Buffalo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,240 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,910 or more. The middle half of fast food and counter workers in Buffalo earn between $32,920 and $35,350.
- $32K10th
- $33K25th
- $35KMedian
- $35K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,010 | $2,918 | $16.83 |
| Median | $34,560 | $2,880 | $16.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $32,920 | $2,743 | $15.83 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,350 | $2,946 | $17.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Fast Food and Counter Workers pay in Buffalo vs. New York and the U.S.
Fast food and counter workers in Buffalo earn 5% less than the New York average ($36,920) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($32,150). At the median the gap is +11% against the U.S. median of $31,200.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | $35,010 | $34,560 | $32,240 | $36,910 | 14,170 |
| New York | $36,920 | $35,250 | $32,240 | $44,740 | 168,620 |
| 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 Buffalo
On the average salary of $35,010, a single filer in Buffalo takes home about $28,990 a year, or $2,416 a month and $1,115 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Buffalo a good place for fast food and counter workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Buffalo area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.8), so the average $35,010 buys what about $36,528 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Buffalo ($50,790). A typical home costs $288,316, or 8.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in other New York cities
Buffalo ranks 6th of 13 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($37,130).
- New York$37,130
- Kiryas Joel$36,590
- Kingston$36,450
- Ithaca$36,430
- Albany$35,480
- Buffalo$35,010
- Syracuse$34,880
- Glens Falls$34,820
- Binghamton$34,560
- Rochester$34,520
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 Buffalo: questions
How much do fast food and counter workers make an hour in Buffalo?
$16.83 an hour on average, and $16.61 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level fast food and counter workers salary in Buffalo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,240 a year and the 25th percentile is $32,920, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the fast food and counter workers take-home pay in Buffalo?
About $28,990 a year ($2,416 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,010. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do fast food and counter workers earn more in Buffalo than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY (15380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.07, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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