Fast Food and Counter Workers Salary
Fast Food and Counter Workers in Ohio make a median of $28,430 a year, or about $13.67 an hour. The range runs from $23K at the entry level to $35K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $31,088 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,188/month, about 59.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $28K get you in Ohio?
About fast food and counter workers
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What this looks like in Ohio
Fast food and counter workers pay in Ohio tracks closely to the national median, $28K locally vs. $31K nationwide, a 9% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,188/month, which is 57.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ohio
Entry-level fast food and counter workers (10th percentile) start around $23K. Mid-career wages sit at $28K. Top earners bring in $35K or more, a $12K spread from bottom to top.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary by metro in Ohio
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | $30K | +5% | 30,950 |
| Cleveland | $29K | +1% | 28,010 |
| Akron | $29K | +1% | 9,480 |
| Columbus | $29K | +1% | 31,590 |
| Canton-Massillon | $28K | -2% | 6,020 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $28K | -3% | 11,860 |
| Sandusky | $28K | -3% | 2,070 |
| Toledo | $28K | -3% | 9,280 |
| Springfield | $27K | -3% | 1,990 |
| Lima | $27K | -4% | 1,830 |
| Youngstown-Warren | $27K | -5% | 6,460 |
| Mansfield | $27K | -6% | 1,610 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
Track fast food and counter workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a fast food and counter worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $28K, rent takes 57.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $600/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 Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fast food and counter workers typically earn — is $23K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,392/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 85% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is fast food and counter worker a high-paying job in Ohio?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $28K locally vs. $31K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for fast food and counter workers?
Ohio pays $28K median vs. the U.S. average of $31K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $31K — below the national median.
How much do fast food and counter workers make in Ohio?
The median is $28,430 a year, that works out to about $14 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $23,200, and experienced fast food and counter workers can clear $34,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $28K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,068/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 57.4% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median fast food and counter workers salary is worth about $31,088 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.