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First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers vs. Fast Food and Counter Workers: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss out-earn Fast Food and Counter Workerss by $13K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss land at $44,080 and Fast Food and Counter Workerss at $31,200. The education gap is real: first-line supervisors of food preparation and serving worker programs typically require no formal educational credential, while fast food and counter worker programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss is Washington ($59,400); for Fast Food and Counter Workerss it's California ($42,280).

First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Median salary
$44,080
$31,200
Hourly rate
$21.19/hr
$15/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$29,940
$22,840
Senior level (90th %)
$65,570
$42,650
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
1,223,240
3,854,050
Job growth (10-year)
6%
6.1%
Category
Food Service
Food Service
Top-paying state
Washington
California

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers median pay.

State
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Washington
$59,400
$37,710
District of Columbia
$57,170
$37,430
Connecticut
$52,940
$35,380
Colorado
$50,550
$36,270
Vermont
$49,820
$36,030
Hawaii
$48,880
$35,250
New Jersey
$48,420
$34,150
Maine
$47,990
$34,710
New York
$47,190
$35,250
California
$46,980
$42,280
Oregon
$46,950
$35,050
Massachusetts
$46,600
$35,850
Maryland
$42,450
$33,660
Arizona
$40,550
$34,230
Illinois
$39,470
$33,910

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss or Fast Food and Counter Workerss?

First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss earn more nationally. The median is $44,080 for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss versus $31,200 for Fast Food and Counter Workerss, a difference of $13K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers or Fast Food and Counter Workers?

Fast Food and Counter Workers has the better 10-year outlook at 6.1% projected growth, compared to 6% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers or Fast Food and Counter Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers typically requires no formal educational credential. Fast Food and Counter Workers requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss at $59,400/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers vs. Fast Food and Counter Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss earn $59,400 vs. $37,710 for Fast Food and Counter Workerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers salary breakdownView →Full Fast Food and Counter Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Fast Food and Counter Workerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a first-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workersGuide →How to become a fast food and counter workersGuide →