Fast Food and Counter Workers pay range in Salem
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,220 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,320 or more. The middle half of fast food and counter workers in Salem earn between $31,670 and $36,290.
- $31K10th
- $32K25th
- $35KMedian
- $36K75th
- $43K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,510 | $2,959 | $17.07 |
| Median | $34,520 | $2,877 | $16.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,670 | $2,639 | $15.23 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,290 | $3,024 | $17.45 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary after taxes in Salem
On the average salary of $35,510, a single filer in Salem takes home about $28,345 a year, or $2,362 a month and $1,090 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Salem a good place for fast food and counter workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salem area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $35,510 buys what about $34,260 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Salem ($55,310). A typical home costs $454,689, or 12.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in other Oregon cities
Salem ranks 4th of 8 Oregon metro areas for this job; Portland pays the most ($37,830).
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 Salem: questions
How much do fast food and counter workers make an hour in Salem?
$17.07 an hour on average, and $16.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level fast food and counter workers salary in Salem?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,220 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,670, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the fast food and counter workers take-home pay in Salem?
About $28,345 a year ($2,362 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,510. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do fast food and counter workers earn more in Salem than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($32,571).
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 Salem, OR (41420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.26, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.