Skip to content
AffordMap
Salary comparison

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant vs. Fast Food and Counter Workers: Who Earns More?

Food Servers, Nonrestaurants out-earn Fast Food and Counter Workerss by $4K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Food Servers, Nonrestaurants land at $35,360 and Fast Food and Counter Workerss at $31,200. The education gap is real: food servers, nonrestaurant programs typically require no formal educational credential, while fast food and counter worker programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Food Servers, Nonrestaurants is New York ($39,370); for Fast Food and Counter Workerss it's California ($42,280).

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Median salary
$35,360
$31,200
Hourly rate
$17/hr
$15/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$28,030
$22,840
Senior level (90th %)
$46,120
$42,650
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
293,900
3,854,050
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
6.1%
Category
Food Service
Food Service
Top-paying state
New York
California

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Food Servers, Nonrestaurant median pay.

State
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
Fast Food and Counter Workers
New York
$39,370
$35,250
California
$39,010
$42,280
Colorado
$38,900
$36,270
Washington
$38,870
$37,710
District of Columbia
$37,920
$37,430
Hawaii
$37,920
$35,250
Maine
$37,680
$34,710
Vermont
$37,540
$36,030
Massachusetts
$36,750
$35,850
Maryland
$36,650
$33,660
Oregon
$36,620
$35,050
New Jersey
$36,390
$34,150
Connecticut
$35,950
$35,380
Arizona
$35,390
$34,230
Illinois
$35,080
$33,910

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Food Servers, Nonrestaurants or Fast Food and Counter Workerss?

Food Servers, Nonrestaurants earn more nationally. The median is $35,360 for Food Servers, Nonrestaurants versus $31,200 for Fast Food and Counter Workerss, a difference of $4K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Food Servers, Nonrestaurant or Fast Food and Counter Workers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Food Servers, Nonrestaurant or Fast Food and Counter Workers?

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant 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 Food Servers, Nonrestaurants get paid the most?

New York is the top-paying state for Food Servers, Nonrestaurants at $39,370/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Food Servers, Nonrestaurant vs. Fast Food and Counter Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In New York, Food Servers, Nonrestaurants earn $39,370 vs. $35,250 for Fast Food and Counter Workerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary breakdownView →Full Fast Food and Counter Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Food Servers, Nonrestaurants by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Fast Food and Counter Workerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a food servers, nonrestaurantGuide →How to become a fast food and counter workersGuide →