Fast Food and Counter Workers Salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Fast Food and Counter Workers in Charleston-North Charleston, SC make a median of $28,450 a year, or about $13.68 an hour. The range runs from $23K at the entry level to $36K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.96), that's roughly $28,179 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,787/month — about 88.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $28K get you in Charleston-North Charleston?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Charleston-North Charleston’s Regional Price Parity (100.96). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction.
About fast food and counter workers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Entry-level fast food and counter workers (10th percentile) start around $23K. Mid-career wages sit at $28K. Top earners bring in $36K or more, a $13K spread from bottom to top.
Fast Food and Counter Workers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $38K | +25% | 7,390 |
| California | $37K | +21% | 438,950 |
| Washington | $37K | +21% | 94,830 |
| New York | $35K | +16% | 183,810 |
| Massachusetts | $35K | +15% | 81,770 |
| Vermont | $35K | +13% | 5,800 |
| Oregon | $34K | +13% | 58,150 |
| Alaska | $34K | +13% | 5,060 |
| Maine | $34K | +13% | 16,520 |
| Connecticut | $34K | +11% | 32,180 |
| New Jersey | $33K | +9% | 86,980 |
| Arizona | $33K | +8% | 86,640 |
| Minnesota | $32K | +5% | 59,220 |
| Illinois | $32K | +5% | 139,090 |
| Maryland | $31K | +2% | 48,270 |
| Hawaii | $31K | +1% | 25,850 |
| Rhode Island | $30K | -0% | 12,650 |
| New Hampshire | $30K | -1% | 12,550 |
| Delaware | $30K | -1% | 13,800 |
| North Dakota | $30K | -2% | 11,580 |
| South Dakota | $29K | -3% | 14,420 |
| Nebraska | $29K | -3% | 28,360 |
| Missouri | $29K | -4% | 32,710 |
| Montana | $29K | -4% | 15,940 |
| Nevada | $29K | -4% | 44,110 |
| Virginia | $29K | -5% | 103,390 |
| Michigan | $29K | -5% | 114,880 |
| North Carolina | $29K | -6% | 85,120 |
| Utah | $29K | -6% | 50,980 |
| New Mexico | $29K | -6% | 23,990 |
| Wisconsin | $29K | -6% | 60,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $28K | -7% | 131,650 |
| Idaho | $28K | -7% | 24,440 |
| Iowa | $28K | -7% | 37,060 |
| Indiana | $28K | -7% | 101,500 |
| Wyoming | $28K | -7% | 6,840 |
| Ohio | $28K | -8% | 167,650 |
| Florida | $28K | -8% | 241,010 |
| Tennessee | $28K | -9% | 84,170 |
| Kentucky | $27K | -11% | 41,890 |
| Texas | $27K | -11% | 410,760 |
| Kansas | $27K | -11% | 45,420 |
| South Carolina | $27K | -12% | 63,380 |
| Arkansas | $27K | -12% | 36,150 |
| Georgia | $26K | -14% | 151,240 |
| West Virginia | $25K | -18% | 7,280 |
| Oklahoma | $24K | -23% | 53,380 |
| Alabama | $23K | -23% | 37,500 |
| Louisiana | $23K | -24% | 34,840 |
| Mississippi | $22K | -27% | 31,010 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track fast food and counter workers salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do fast food and counter workers make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median is $28,450 a year, that works out to about $14 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $22,600, and experienced fast food and counter workers can clear $35,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $28K enough to live in Charleston-North Charleston?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,049/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,787/month, which eats 87.2% 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 Charleston-North Charleston?
Charleston-North Charleston has a Regional Price Parity of 100.96 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median fast food and counter workers salary is worth about $28,179 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.