Fast Food and Counter Workers Salary
Fast Food and Counter Workers in Boulder, CO make a median of $36,190 a year, or about $17.4 an hour. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $45K for experienced workers.
So what does $36K get you in Boulder?
About fast food and counter workers
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Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for fast food and counter workers in metros near Boulder, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $37K | , |
| Colorado Springs | $34K | , |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $35K | , |
| Greeley | $33K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boulder, CO
Entry-level fast food and counter workers (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $45K or more, a $12K spread from bottom to top.
Fast Food and Counter Workers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $42K | +36% | 449,840 |
| Washington | $38K | +21% | 94,710 |
| District of Columbia | $37K | +20% | 5,500 |
| Colorado | $36K | +16% | 82,010 |
| Vermont | $36K | +15% | 6,830 |
| Massachusetts | $36K | +15% | 85,810 |
| Connecticut | $35K | +13% | 35,720 |
| Hawaii | $35K | +13% | 24,130 |
| New York | $35K | +13% | 168,620 |
| Oregon | $35K | +12% | 59,920 |
| Maine | $35K | +11% | 17,250 |
| Arizona | $34K | +10% | 77,210 |
| New Jersey | $34K | +9% | 93,730 |
| Illinois | $34K | +9% | 127,590 |
| Maryland | $34K | +8% | 49,380 |
| Alaska | $33K | +7% | 5,900 |
| Nevada | $32K | +2% | 45,850 |
| New Hampshire | $32K | +1% | 14,540 |
| Rhode Island | $31K | +1% | 13,310 |
| Minnesota | $31K | +1% | 58,970 |
| Delaware | $31K | +0% | 13,310 |
| Missouri | $30K | -3% | 29,360 |
| Virginia | $30K | -3% | 104,460 |
| North Dakota | $30K | -4% | 11,470 |
| South Dakota | $29K | -5% | 15,150 |
| Montana | $29K | -7% | 14,960 |
| Florida | $29K | -7% | 235,400 |
| Nebraska | $29K | -7% | 30,060 |
| Idaho | $29K | -7% | 25,810 |
| Michigan | $29K | -7% | 103,130 |
| Indiana | $29K | -8% | 97,290 |
| New Mexico | $29K | -8% | 28,250 |
| Utah | $29K | -8% | 52,340 |
| Wisconsin | $29K | -8% | 67,750 |
| Pennsylvania | $29K | -8% | 142,220 |
| North Carolina | $29K | -8% | 92,230 |
| Ohio | $28K | -9% | 163,560 |
| Iowa | $28K | -9% | 40,290 |
| Wyoming | $28K | -11% | 7,060 |
| Texas | $28K | -11% | 460,530 |
| Kansas | $28K | -12% | 47,140 |
| South Carolina | $28K | -12% | 65,070 |
| Tennessee | $27K | -12% | 90,690 |
| Kentucky | $27K | -13% | 41,860 |
| Georgia | $27K | -14% | 145,030 |
| Arkansas | $26K | -16% | 35,660 |
| West Virginia | $26K | -16% | 6,240 |
| Alabama | $24K | -24% | 41,460 |
| Oklahoma | $23K | -25% | 52,520 |
| Louisiana | $23K | -27% | 45,720 |
| Mississippi | $23K | -28% | 31,220 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 states
Track fast food and counter workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Boulder numbers change.
Related careers in Food Service
Frequently asked questions
Can a fast food and counter worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boulder?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 83.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,044/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for fast food and counter workers in Boulder?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fast food and counter workers typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,002/month.
Is fast food and counter worker a high-paying job in Boulder?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $36K here vs. $31K nationally.
How does Boulder compare to the national average for fast food and counter workers?
Boulder pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $31K — that’s +16%.
How much do fast food and counter workers make in Boulder, CO?
The median is $36,190 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,360, and experienced fast food and counter workers can clear $45,460. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Boulder?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,460/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,044/month, which eats 83.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a fast food and counter workers salary go in Boulder?
Boulder has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median fast food and counter workers salary is worth about $36,190 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do fast food and counter workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.