Fast Food and Counter Workers pay range in Altoona
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $20,210 a year or less, while the top 10% make $34,540 or more. The middle half of fast food and counter workers in Altoona earn between $22,090 and $28,290.
- $20K10th
- $22K25th
- $26KMedian
- $28K75th
- $35K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $26,300 | $2,192 | $12.64 |
| Median | $26,090 | $2,174 | $12.54 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $22,090 | $1,841 | $10.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $28,290 | $2,358 | $13.60 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Fast Food and Counter Workers pay in Altoona vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Fast food and counter workers in Altoona earn 9% less than the Pennsylvania average ($28,930) and 18% less than the U.S. average ($32,150). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $31,200.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona | $26,300 | $26,090 | $20,210 | $34,540 | 1,800 |
| Pennsylvania | $28,930 | $28,570 | $22,030 | $35,880 | 142,220 |
| 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 Altoona
On the average salary of $26,300, a single filer in Altoona takes home about $22,461 a year, or $1,872 a month and $864 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Altoona a good place for fast food and counter workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Altoona area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.5), so the average $26,300 buys what about $29,383 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Altoona ($44,270). A typical home costs $178,052, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Altoona ranks 15th of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($31,880).
- Philadelphia$31,880
- Allentown$29,750
- Lancaster$29,150
- Lebanon$29,130
- State College$28,820
- Reading$28,670
- Pittsburgh$28,520
- Gettysburg$28,450
- Harrisburg$28,450
- Altoona$26,300
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 Altoona: questions
How much do fast food and counter workers make an hour in Altoona?
$12.65 an hour on average, and $12.54 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level fast food and counter workers salary in Altoona?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $20,210 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,090, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the fast food and counter workers take-home pay in Altoona?
About $22,461 a year ($1,872 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $26,300. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do fast food and counter workers earn more in Altoona than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% 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 Altoona, PA (11020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.24, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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