Fast Food and Counter Workers pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,720 a year or less, while the top 10% make $34,710 or more. The middle half of fast food and counter workers in Charleston earn between $19,810 and $28,570.
- $19K10th
- $20K25th
- $22KMedian
- $29K75th
- $35K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $24,910 | $2,076 | $11.98 |
| Median | $22,380 | $1,865 | $10.76 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $19,810 | $1,651 | $9.52 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $28,570 | $2,381 | $13.74 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Fast Food and Counter Workers pay in Charleston vs. West Virginia and the U.S.
Fast food and counter workers in Charleston earn 7% less than the West Virginia average ($26,780) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($32,150). At the median the gap is -28% against the U.S. median of $31,200.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $24,910 | $22,380 | $18,720 | $34,710 | 730 |
| West Virginia | $26,780 | $26,070 | $18,750 | $35,150 | 6,240 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $24,910, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $21,550 a year, or $1,796 a month and $829 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for fast food and counter workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.7), so the average $24,910 buys what about $28,078 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($45,830). A typical home costs $148,817, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in other West Virginia cities
Charleston ranks 7th of 7 West Virginia metro areas for this job; Beckley pays the most ($26,910).
- Beckley$26,910
- Weirton$26,810
- Wheeling$26,190
- Parkersburg$26,130
- Morgantown$26,030
- Huntington$25,480
- Charleston$24,910
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 Charleston: questions
How much do fast food and counter workers make an hour in Charleston?
$11.98 an hour on average, and $10.76 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level fast food and counter workers salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,720 a year and the 25th percentile is $19,810, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the fast food and counter workers take-home pay in Charleston?
About $21,550 a year ($1,796 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $24,910.
Do fast food and counter workers earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% 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 Charleston, WV (16620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.0%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.28, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.28).
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