389 metro areas
Fast Food Worker Salary by City (2026)
Fast food workers earn the most in San Jose, CA, an average of $44,970 a year, against $32,150 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in El Centro, CA ($41,940 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.
- US average (mean)
- $32,150BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Highest-paying city
- $44,970San Jose, CA
- Best after cost of living
- $41,940El Centro, CA
- Metro areas
- 389With their own estimate
Top cities
Highest-paying cities for fast food workers
Top 10 metro areas
- San Jose, CA$44,970
- San Francisco, CA$44,620
- Napa, CA$44,010
- Vallejo, CA$42,760
- Santa Rosa, CA$42,640
- Seattle, WA$42,270
- Salinas, CA$41,870
- Sacramento, CA$41,850
- Modesto, CA$41,600
- Santa Cruz, CA$41,580
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $44,970 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $44,620 |
| Napa, CA | $44,010 |
| Vallejo, CA | $42,760 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $42,640 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $42,270 |
| Salinas, CA | $41,870 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $41,850 |
| Modesto, CA | $41,600 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $41,580 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Mean wage ÷ BEA price level
- El Centro, CA$39,920 nominal$41,940
- San Jose, CA$44,970 nominal$40,730
- Merced, CA$39,980 nominal$40,680
- Hanford, CA$40,790 nominal$40,140
- Modesto, CA$41,600 nominal$39,960
- Bakersfield, CA$40,290 nominal$39,940
- Visalia, CA$39,750 nominal$39,820
- Santa Rosa, CA$42,640 nominal$39,560
- Longview, WA$38,480 nominal$39,450
- Vallejo, CA$42,760 nominal$39,420
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| El Centro, CA | $41,940 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $40,730 |
| Merced, CA | $40,680 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $40,140 |
| Modesto, CA | $39,960 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $39,940 |
| Visalia, CA | $39,820 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $39,560 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $39,450 |
| Vallejo, CA | $39,420 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024
Every city
Fast Food Worker salary in every metro area
Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.
| # | Metro area | Mean | Entry (Level I) | Experienced (Level IV) | At US prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $44,970 | $38,310 | $48,260 | $40,730 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $44,620 | $37,290 | $48,210 | $38,590 |
| 3 | Napa, CA | $44,010 | $37,130 | $47,400 | $39,100 |
| 4 | Vallejo, CA | $42,760 | $36,320 | $45,930 | $39,420 |
| 5 | Santa Rosa, CA | $42,640 | $36,520 | $45,640 | $39,560 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $42,270 | $36,130 | $45,280 | $38,040 |
| 7 | Salinas, CA | $41,870 | $35,860 | $44,840 | $38,400 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $41,850 | $36,280 | $44,620 | $39,230 |
| 9 | Modesto, CA | $41,600 | $35,900 | $44,410 | $39,960 |
| 10 | Santa Cruz, CA | $41,580 | $35,760 | $44,450 | $37,840 |
| 11 | Oxnard, CA | $41,350 | $35,960 | $43,990 | $37,410 |
| 12 | Santa Maria, CA | $41,330 | $35,780 | $44,050 | $37,990 |
| 13 | Riverside, CA | $41,250 | $35,590 | $44,030 | $38,750 |
| 14 | Los Angeles, CA | $41,080 | $35,980 | $43,600 | $36,170 |
| 15 | Yuba City, CA | $40,980 | $35,780 | $43,530 | $39,320 |
| 16 | San Diego, CA | $40,870 | $35,820 | $43,370 | $36,530 |
| 17 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $40,870 | $35,420 | $43,560 | $37,630 |
| 18 | Hanford, CA | $40,790 | $35,760 | $43,260 | $40,140 |
| 19 | Stockton, CA | $40,770 | $35,630 | $43,310 | $38,800 |
| 20 | Bakersfield, CA | $40,290 | $35,590 | $42,600 | $39,940 |
| 21 | Fresno, CA | $40,120 | $35,360 | $42,450 | $39,270 |
| 22 | Merced, CA | $39,980 | $35,570 | $42,140 | $40,680 |
| 23 | El Centro, CA | $39,920 | $35,380 | $42,160 | $41,940 |
| 24 | Visalia, CA | $39,750 | $35,440 | $41,870 | $39,820 |
| 25 | Redding, CA | $39,600 | $35,260 | $41,720 | $39,330 |
| 26 | Bremerton, WA | $39,520 | $35,960 | $41,270 | $37,420 |
| 27 | Chico, CA | $39,480 | $34,940 | $41,700 | $39,010 |
| 28 | Bellingham, WA | $39,350 | $35,480 | $41,270 | $38,080 |
| 29 | Mount Vernon, WA | $39,230 | $35,800 | $40,910 | $38,290 |
| 30 | Kahului, HI | $39,020 | $31,870 | $42,540 | $35,670 |
| 31 | Burlington, VT | $38,710 | $33,130 | $41,450 | $38,350 |
| 32 | Longview, WA | $38,480 | $35,070 | $40,190 | $39,450 |
| 33 | Wenatchee, WA | $38,380 | $34,940 | $40,080 | $36,960 |
| 34 | Denver, CO | $38,230 | $34,340 | $40,160 | $36,140 |
| 35 | Kennewick, WA | $38,230 | $35,150 | $39,750 | $38,200 |
| 36 | Olympia, WA | $38,230 | $35,070 | $39,790 | $36,880 |
| 37 | Portland, OR-WA | $37,840 | $34,340 | $39,560 | $35,890 |
| 38 | Boulder, CO | $37,730 | $34,010 | $39,580 | $35,860 |
| 39 | Spokane, WA | $37,650 | $34,800 | $39,060 | $37,520 |
| 40 | Yakima, WA | $37,540 | $34,720 | $38,940 | $39,290 |
| 41 | Bridgeport, CT | $37,480 | $35,210 | $38,580 | $35,070 |
| 42 | New York, NY-NJ | $37,130 | $33,550 | $38,880 | $32,990 |
| 43 | Walla Walla, WA | $36,960 | $34,650 | $38,110 | $37,520 |
| 44 | Barnstable Town, MA | $36,630 | $33,260 | $38,290 | $37,240 |
| 45 | Bend, OR | $36,590 | $32,140 | $38,790 | $35,320 |
| 46 | Kiryas Joel, NY | $36,590 | $33,400 | $38,170 | $33,440 |
| 47 | Portland, ME | $36,520 | $32,490 | $38,520 | $35,850 |
| 48 | Ithaca, NY | $36,440 | $32,860 | $38,190 | $35,270 |
| 49 | Kingston, NY | $36,440 | $32,860 | $38,210 | $36,180 |
| 50 | Fort Collins, CO | $36,420 | $31,490 | $38,850 | $36,010 |
| 51 | Boston, MA-NH | $36,230 | $32,410 | $38,130 | $33,460 |
| 52 | New Haven, CT | $36,210 | $34,360 | $37,110 | $34,630 |
| 53 | Hartford, CT | $36,130 | $34,150 | $37,110 | $35,160 |
| 54 | Grants Pass, OR | $35,730 | $31,800 | $37,670 | $36,550 |
| 55 | Lewiston, ME | $35,630 | $30,910 | $37,940 | $37,610 |
| 56 | Norwich, CT | $35,610 | $34,090 | $36,380 | $35,450 |
| 57 | Waterbury, CT | $35,610 | $34,050 | $36,360 | $35,690 |
| 58 | Phoenix, AZ | $35,550 | $31,550 | $37,520 | $34,410 |
| 59 | Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | $35,550 | $30,870 | $37,860 | $32,650 |
| 60 | Flagstaff, AZ | $35,530 | $31,720 | $37,400 | $35,410 |
| 61 | Salem, OR | $35,510 | $31,450 | $37,500 | $34,260 |
| 62 | Albany, NY | $35,480 | $32,530 | $36,940 | $35,630 |
| 63 | Colorado Springs, CO | $35,170 | $31,160 | $37,150 | $34,920 |
| 64 | Amherst Town, MA | $35,130 | $32,410 | $36,480 | $35,040 |
| 65 | Trenton, NJ | $35,110 | $32,320 | $36,480 | $34,030 |
| 66 | Worcester, MA | $35,030 | $32,070 | $36,480 | $34,170 |
| 67 | Buffalo, NY | $35,010 | $32,570 | $36,210 | $36,530 |
| 68 | Medford, OR | $35,010 | $30,830 | $37,040 | $34,520 |
| 69 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $34,960 | $29,600 | $37,610 | $31,510 |
| 70 | Pittsfield, MA | $34,900 | $31,740 | $36,460 | $36,700 |
| 71 | Syracuse, NY | $34,880 | $32,300 | $36,150 | $36,430 |
| 72 | Naples, FL | $34,840 | $29,810 | $37,340 | $33,760 |
| 73 | Glens Falls, NY | $34,820 | $32,280 | $36,070 | $36,700 |
| 74 | Anchorage, AK | $34,780 | $26,960 | $38,630 | $32,990 |
| 75 | Albany, OR | $34,740 | $30,870 | $36,650 | $34,030 |
| 76 | Chicago, IL-IN | $34,690 | $30,470 | $36,770 | $33,490 |
| 77 | Bangor, ME | $34,670 | $30,780 | $36,590 | $35,920 |
| 78 | Vineland, NJ | $34,570 | $32,220 | $35,730 | $36,020 |
| 79 | Binghamton, NY | $34,550 | $32,240 | $35,690 | $37,210 |
| 80 | Rochester, NY | $34,530 | $32,240 | $35,650 | $35,590 |
| 81 | Prescott Valley, AZ | $34,440 | $30,930 | $36,190 | $35,050 |
| 82 | Atlantic City, NJ | $34,380 | $32,220 | $35,460 | $34,780 |
| 83 | Eugene, OR | $34,340 | $30,530 | $36,210 | $33,810 |
| 84 | Corvallis, OR | $34,260 | $30,700 | $36,030 | $32,940 |
| 85 | Springfield, MA | $34,130 | $31,280 | $35,550 | $35,530 |
| 86 | Elmira, NY | $34,110 | $32,240 | $35,030 | $36,130 |
| 87 | Greeley, CO | $34,110 | $30,930 | $35,670 | $34,050 |
| 88 | Providence, RI-MA | $34,070 | $31,200 | $35,480 | $33,480 |
| 89 | Utica, NY | $34,050 | $32,240 | $34,940 | $36,740 |
| 90 | Tucson, AZ | $34,010 | $30,720 | $35,630 | $35,100 |
| 91 | Watertown, NY | $33,990 | $32,240 | $34,840 | $38,760 |
| 92 | Baltimore, MD | $33,820 | $31,280 | $35,070 | $32,370 |
| 93 | Santa Fe, NM | $33,700 | $29,520 | $35,780 | $34,120 |
| 94 | Grand Junction, CO | $33,610 | $30,800 | $34,990 | $35,200 |
| 95 | Fairbanks, AK | $33,470 | $25,110 | $37,590 | $32,430 |
| 96 | Pueblo, CO | $33,320 | $30,800 | $34,570 | $36,310 |
| 97 | Lake Havasu City, AZ | $33,280 | $30,580 | $34,610 | $35,370 |
| 98 | Lexington Park, MD | $33,200 | $31,200 | $34,170 | $32,950 |
| 99 | Minneapolis, MN-WI | $33,160 | $28,560 | $35,400 | $31,630 |
| 100 | Springfield, IL | $33,130 | $31,200 | $34,110 | $35,720 |
| 101 | Champaign, IL | $33,110 | $31,200 | $34,050 | $35,720 |
| 102 | Dover, DE | $33,110 | $31,200 | $34,070 | $33,960 |
| 103 | Yuma, AZ | $33,070 | $30,580 | $34,300 | $35,670 |
| 104 | Bozeman, MT | $33,050 | $27,020 | $36,030 | $32,240 |
| 105 | Las Vegas, NV | $33,050 | $27,100 | $35,980 | $32,980 |
| 106 | Rockford, IL | $32,880 | $31,200 | $33,740 | $35,680 |
| 107 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $32,800 | $29,930 | $34,220 | $34,490 |
| 108 | Peoria, IL | $32,760 | $31,200 | $33,530 | $35,910 |
| 109 | Decatur, IL | $32,660 | $31,200 | $33,360 | $36,940 |
| 110 | Ann Arbor, MI | $32,610 | $27,810 | $34,990 | $32,330 |
| 111 | Carson City, NV | $32,470 | $27,500 | $34,920 | $33,090 |
| 112 | Salisbury, MD | $32,470 | $31,200 | $33,090 | $33,960 |
| 113 | Kankakee, IL | $32,430 | $31,200 | $33,030 | $33,640 |
| 114 | Reno, NV | $32,410 | $27,270 | $34,940 | $32,080 |
| 115 | Hagerstown, MD-WV | $32,340 | $29,390 | $33,800 | $34,340 |
| 116 | Bloomington, IL | $32,280 | $31,200 | $32,800 | $34,510 |
| 117 | Rochester, MN | $32,220 | $27,890 | $34,340 | $35,480 |
| 118 | Charlottesville, VA | $32,140 | $28,020 | $34,150 | $32,420 |
| 119 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $32,030 | $24,980 | $35,510 | $35,140 |
| 120 | North Port, FL | $32,010 | $28,660 | $33,650 | $31,250 |
| 121 | Sierra Vista, AZ | $31,970 | $30,580 | $32,680 | $35,820 |
| 122 | Crestview, FL | $31,890 | $27,980 | $33,800 | $32,870 |
| 123 | Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $31,890 | $26,770 | $34,380 | $31,100 |
| 124 | Jefferson City, MO | $31,760 | $28,600 | $33,320 | $36,100 |
| 125 | Miami, FL | $31,760 | $27,910 | $33,680 | $27,820 |
| 126 | Fargo, ND-MN | $31,720 | $26,310 | $34,380 | $34,910 |
| 127 | Springfield, MO | $31,640 | $28,620 | $33,130 | $35,720 |
| 128 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $31,620 | $28,120 | $33,320 | $34,890 |
| 129 | St. Cloud, MN | $31,600 | $27,120 | $33,800 | $36,060 |
| 130 | Mankato, MN | $31,470 | $27,210 | $33,570 | $34,600 |
| 131 | Manchester, NH | $31,370 | $25,020 | $34,490 | $29,690 |
| 132 | Cape Coral, FL | $31,320 | $28,390 | $32,780 | $30,600 |
| 133 | Omaha, NE-IA | $31,280 | $27,980 | $32,930 | $34,030 |
| 134 | Tampa, FL | $31,200 | $27,810 | $32,880 | $30,920 |
| 135 | Bismarck, ND | $31,120 | $25,830 | $33,740 | $34,190 |
| 136 | Minot, ND | $31,080 | $26,170 | $33,490 | $35,710 |
| 137 | Richmond, VA | $31,080 | $27,790 | $32,700 | $31,760 |
| 138 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $31,050 | $28,700 | $32,200 | $36,070 |
| 139 | Columbia, MO | $31,030 | $28,600 | $32,240 | $34,690 |
| 140 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $31,030 | $28,000 | $32,530 | $30,960 |
| 141 | Punta Gorda, FL | $31,030 | $28,120 | $32,470 | $30,870 |
| 142 | Madison, WI | $30,970 | $25,110 | $33,860 | $31,830 |
| 143 | Missoula, MT | $30,910 | $24,790 | $33,920 | $32,050 |
| 144 | Rapid City, SD | $30,890 | $27,730 | $32,450 | $34,650 |
| 145 | Detroit, MI | $30,870 | $27,250 | $32,640 | $30,780 |
| 146 | Albuquerque, NM | $30,780 | $28,200 | $32,050 | $32,210 |
| 147 | Grand Island, NE | $30,760 | $28,080 | $32,090 | $35,500 |
| 148 | Hilton Head Island, SC | $30,760 | $24,590 | $33,800 | $31,380 |
| 149 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $30,720 | $28,540 | $31,800 | $35,560 |
| 150 | Sebastian, FL | $30,640 | $27,580 | $32,160 | $31,170 |
| 151 | Duluth, MN-WI | $30,600 | $26,350 | $32,680 | $34,470 |
| 152 | Traverse City, MI | $30,580 | $26,920 | $32,390 | $32,750 |
| 153 | Orlando, FL | $30,510 | $27,750 | $31,890 | $30,080 |
| 154 | Gainesville, FL | $30,470 | $27,440 | $31,990 | $31,500 |
| 155 | Palm Bay, FL | $30,470 | $27,830 | $31,780 | $30,470 |
| 156 | Virginia Beach, VA-NC | $30,470 | $27,350 | $31,990 | $31,110 |
| 157 | Staunton, VA | $30,430 | $27,500 | $31,870 | $33,390 |
| 158 | Lincoln, NE | $30,410 | $28,080 | $31,530 | $33,210 |
| 159 | Davenport, IA-IL | $30,390 | $25,400 | $32,840 | $34,120 |
| 160 | Deltona, FL | $30,390 | $27,640 | $31,760 | $30,580 |
| 161 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $30,370 | $25,330 | $32,840 | $32,820 |
| 162 | Wildwood, FL | $30,310 | $27,520 | $31,680 | $35,480 |
| 163 | Durham, NC | $30,280 | $23,690 | $33,530 | $31,030 |
| 164 | Harrisonburg, VA | $30,260 | $27,100 | $31,820 | $31,890 |
| 165 | Lansing, MI | $30,200 | $26,830 | $31,840 | $31,790 |
| 166 | Austin, TX | $30,140 | $24,040 | $33,130 | $30,730 |
| 167 | Battle Creek, MI | $30,140 | $26,640 | $31,870 | $33,290 |
| 168 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $30,060 | $25,630 | $32,240 | $31,520 |
| 169 | Raleigh, NC | $30,040 | $23,110 | $33,450 | $30,600 |
| 170 | Billings, MT | $30,010 | $24,190 | $32,880 | $32,090 |
| 171 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $30,010 | $25,060 | $32,470 | $34,630 |
| 172 | Kalamazoo, MI | $30,010 | $26,940 | $31,530 | $31,640 |
| 173 | Des Moines, IA | $29,930 | $23,920 | $32,910 | $32,640 |
| 174 | Winchester, VA-WV | $29,930 | $26,730 | $31,510 | $31,030 |
| 175 | Blacksburg, VA | $29,910 | $26,750 | $31,470 | $32,260 |
| 176 | Charlotte, NC-SC | $29,910 | $23,610 | $33,010 | $30,720 |
| 177 | Jacksonville, FL | $29,910 | $27,560 | $31,080 | $30,070 |
| 178 | Iowa City, IA | $29,850 | $23,750 | $32,840 | $32,620 |
| 179 | Pensacola, FL | $29,850 | $27,370 | $31,080 | $30,550 |
| 180 | Cleveland, OH | $29,830 | $25,810 | $31,800 | $31,760 |
| 181 | Grand Rapids, MI | $29,790 | $26,690 | $31,320 | $31,180 |
| 182 | Indianapolis, IN | $29,790 | $25,040 | $32,120 | $31,130 |
| 183 | Joplin, MO-KS | $29,760 | $26,870 | $31,180 | $34,720 |
| 184 | Niles, MI | $29,760 | $26,270 | $31,510 | $32,220 |
| 185 | Allentown, PA-NJ | $29,740 | $24,320 | $32,430 | $29,750 |
| 186 | Midland, MI | $29,720 | $26,830 | $31,160 | $32,330 |
| 187 | Ocala, FL | $29,680 | $27,140 | $30,930 | $31,170 |
| 188 | Charleston, SC | $29,660 | $23,800 | $32,530 | $29,380 |
| 189 | Saginaw, MI | $29,660 | $26,440 | $31,260 | $32,630 |
| 190 | Kokomo, IN | $29,620 | $23,400 | $32,680 | $33,040 |
| 191 | Columbus, OH | $29,580 | $25,630 | $31,530 | $30,980 |
| 192 | Ames, IA | $29,560 | $23,190 | $32,700 | $33,280 |
| 193 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $29,560 | $24,380 | $32,090 | $34,190 |
| 194 | Lakeland, FL | $29,540 | $27,290 | $30,660 | $30,410 |
| 195 | Provo, UT | $29,520 | $23,820 | $32,320 | $30,050 |
| 196 | Kenosha, WI | $29,490 | $24,150 | $32,120 | $29,160 |
| 197 | Panama City, FL | $29,470 | $27,310 | $30,560 | $30,290 |
| 198 | Asheville, NC | $29,430 | $23,050 | $32,570 | $30,500 |
| 199 | Nashville, TN | $29,430 | $23,770 | $32,220 | $30,550 |
| 200 | Salt Lake City, UT | $29,430 | $23,360 | $32,410 | $29,180 |
| 201 | Boise City, ID | $29,390 | $22,210 | $32,930 | $29,870 |
| 202 | Milwaukee, WI | $29,370 | $23,460 | $32,280 | $30,300 |
| 203 | Dallas, TX | $29,350 | $23,980 | $31,990 | $28,470 |
| 204 | Lynchburg, VA | $29,350 | $26,620 | $30,700 | $32,840 |
| 205 | Sheboygan, WI | $29,310 | $23,280 | $32,280 | $31,180 |
| 206 | Winston, NC | $29,270 | $22,730 | $32,490 | $31,800 |
| 207 | Akron, OH | $29,220 | $25,400 | $31,100 | $31,290 |
| 208 | Appleton, WI | $29,220 | $23,170 | $32,220 | $31,620 |
| 209 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $29,220 | $20,780 | $33,360 | $29,730 |
| 210 | St. George, UT | $29,220 | $23,360 | $32,120 | $30,020 |
| 211 | Helena, MT | $29,200 | $23,520 | $32,010 | $30,520 |
| 212 | Monroe, MI | $29,200 | $26,480 | $30,530 | $31,230 |
| 213 | Roanoke, VA | $29,200 | $26,420 | $30,580 | $31,190 |
| 214 | Dubuque, IA | $29,180 | $22,980 | $32,220 | $33,410 |
| 215 | Flint, MI | $29,140 | $26,350 | $30,530 | $31,320 |
| 216 | Lancaster, PA | $29,140 | $23,360 | $32,010 | $29,660 |
| 217 | Lebanon, PA | $29,140 | $23,670 | $31,820 | $31,260 |
| 218 | Muskegon, MI | $29,120 | $26,420 | $30,430 | $31,470 |
| 219 | Racine, WI | $29,060 | $23,730 | $31,680 | $30,280 |
| 220 | Tallahassee, FL | $29,060 | $27,040 | $30,060 | $30,940 |
| 221 | Great Falls, MT | $29,020 | $23,690 | $31,660 | $29,970 |
| 222 | Oshkosh, WI | $29,020 | $23,690 | $31,640 | $31,230 |
| 223 | Jackson, MI | $28,930 | $26,350 | $30,200 | $31,520 |
| 224 | Fort Wayne, IN | $28,890 | $22,800 | $31,910 | $31,210 |
| 225 | Sebring, FL | $28,890 | $27,040 | $29,810 | $31,240 |
| 226 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $28,870 | $23,210 | $31,680 | $32,450 |
| 227 | Green Bay, WI | $28,870 | $23,210 | $31,660 | $31,010 |
| 228 | State College, PA | $28,830 | $22,710 | $31,820 | $29,790 |
| 229 | Farmington, NM | $28,810 | $26,500 | $29,930 | $32,850 |
| 230 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $28,750 | $23,230 | $31,470 | $30,890 |
| 231 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $28,720 | $27,040 | $29,560 | $30,730 |
| 232 | Las Cruces, NM | $28,700 | $26,210 | $29,930 | $31,810 |
| 233 | Ogden, UT | $28,680 | $22,900 | $31,530 | $28,580 |
| 234 | Reading, PA | $28,660 | $23,340 | $31,300 | $29,530 |
| 235 | Waterloo, IA | $28,660 | $22,920 | $31,490 | $32,920 |
| 236 | Bay City, MI | $28,620 | $26,830 | $29,520 | $31,140 |
| 237 | Burlington, NC | $28,620 | $22,340 | $31,720 | $30,710 |
| 238 | Dayton, OH | $28,620 | $24,670 | $30,560 | $30,880 |
| 239 | Midland, TX | $28,620 | $23,380 | $31,200 | $29,880 |
| 240 | Elkhart, IN | $28,600 | $22,710 | $31,490 | $31,660 |
| 241 | Eau Claire, WI | $28,540 | $23,320 | $31,140 | $30,760 |
| 242 | La Crosse, WI-MN | $28,540 | $23,090 | $31,220 | $31,100 |
| 243 | Cheyenne, WY | $28,520 | $21,940 | $31,760 | $29,560 |
| 244 | Jacksonville, NC | $28,520 | $21,880 | $31,780 | $30,970 |
| 245 | Pittsburgh, PA | $28,520 | $22,570 | $31,450 | $30,130 |
| 246 | Greensboro, NC | $28,500 | $21,900 | $31,740 | $30,690 |
| 247 | Michigan City, IN | $28,500 | $22,240 | $31,550 | $31,090 |
| 248 | Gettysburg, PA | $28,450 | $22,860 | $31,200 | $29,830 |
| 249 | Harrisburg, PA | $28,450 | $22,800 | $31,240 | $28,840 |
| 250 | Bloomington, IN | $28,410 | $22,010 | $31,550 | $29,880 |
| 251 | Janesville, WI | $28,390 | $23,070 | $31,030 | $30,300 |
| 252 | Atlanta, GA | $28,330 | $21,470 | $31,720 | $28,310 |
| 253 | Columbus, IN | $28,310 | $22,400 | $31,200 | $30,440 |
| 254 | Fond du Lac, WI | $28,270 | $22,800 | $30,970 | $30,850 |
| 255 | Fayetteville, NC | $28,250 | $21,300 | $31,660 | $30,710 |
| 256 | Hickory, NC | $28,250 | $22,110 | $31,260 | $31,930 |
| 257 | Fayetteville, AR | $28,230 | $24,210 | $30,200 | $30,900 |
| 258 | Topeka, KS | $28,230 | $23,000 | $30,780 | $31,780 |
| 259 | Greenville, SC | $28,200 | $23,090 | $30,740 | $30,240 |
| 260 | Logan, UT-ID | $28,200 | $22,650 | $30,950 | $29,400 |
| 261 | Wilmington, NC | $28,200 | $21,380 | $31,550 | $29,250 |
| 262 | Sandusky, OH | $28,180 | $23,940 | $30,260 | $31,560 |
| 263 | South Bend, IN-MI | $28,140 | $22,650 | $30,830 | $30,300 |
| 264 | Goldsboro, NC | $28,120 | $21,590 | $31,370 | $31,790 |
| 265 | Lafayette, IN | $28,120 | $22,460 | $30,910 | $30,100 |
| 266 | Savannah, GA | $28,080 | $21,420 | $31,370 | $29,490 |
| 267 | Canton, OH | $28,060 | $24,130 | $29,990 | $31,380 |
| 268 | York, PA | $28,060 | $22,690 | $30,720 | $29,230 |
| 269 | Greenville, NC | $28,020 | $21,690 | $31,140 | $31,700 |
| 270 | Odessa, TX | $28,000 | $22,550 | $30,680 | $29,820 |
| 271 | San Antonio, TX | $28,000 | $22,150 | $30,890 | $29,560 |
| 272 | Lawrence, KS | $27,980 | $23,050 | $30,390 | $31,010 |
| 273 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $27,980 | $23,030 | $30,430 | $30,350 |
| 274 | Knoxville, TN | $27,960 | $22,780 | $30,490 | $30,200 |
| 275 | Toledo, OH | $27,960 | $23,590 | $30,100 | $30,570 |
| 276 | Idaho Falls, ID | $27,910 | $20,650 | $31,470 | $29,560 |
| 277 | Evansville, IN | $27,890 | $21,920 | $30,830 | $30,470 |
| 278 | Scranton, PA | $27,870 | $22,280 | $30,620 | $29,790 |
| 279 | Pinehurst, NC | $27,850 | $21,010 | $31,240 | $31,530 |
| 280 | Wausau, WI | $27,850 | $22,530 | $30,470 | $30,060 |
| 281 | Pocatello, ID | $27,830 | $20,680 | $31,370 | $31,300 |
| 282 | Casper, WY | $27,810 | $20,950 | $31,200 | $29,640 |
| 283 | Lexington, KY | $27,810 | $22,110 | $30,620 | $29,940 |
| 284 | Little Rock, AR | $27,790 | $23,690 | $29,790 | $31,100 |
| 285 | Houston, TX | $27,640 | $21,530 | $30,640 | $28,020 |
| 286 | Twin Falls, ID | $27,640 | $20,490 | $31,180 | $30,010 |
| 287 | Muncie, IN | $27,620 | $21,550 | $30,620 | $31,330 |
| 288 | Springfield, OH | $27,620 | $23,690 | $29,560 | $30,530 |
| 289 | Jonesboro, AR | $27,600 | $23,360 | $29,700 | $32,140 |
| 290 | Williamsport, PA | $27,560 | $22,150 | $30,220 | $29,840 |
| 291 | Warner Robins, GA | $27,520 | $21,470 | $30,490 | $29,340 |
| 292 | Chambersburg, PA | $27,410 | $22,090 | $30,040 | $28,960 |
| 293 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $27,330 | $22,150 | $29,870 | $29,190 |
| 294 | Waco, TX | $27,310 | $21,490 | $30,180 | $29,510 |
| 295 | Kingsport, TN-VA | $27,270 | $22,960 | $29,410 | $31,550 |
| 296 | Spartanburg, SC | $27,250 | $22,440 | $29,620 | $29,930 |
| 297 | Gainesville, GA | $27,230 | $21,280 | $30,160 | $28,140 |
| 298 | Bowling Green, KY | $27,140 | $21,780 | $29,790 | $30,100 |
| 299 | Lima, OH | $27,140 | $23,590 | $28,890 | $30,270 |
| 300 | Sherman, TX | $27,100 | $21,920 | $29,640 | $28,900 |
| 301 | Columbia, SC | $27,080 | $22,380 | $29,390 | $28,910 |
| 302 | Paducah, KY-IL | $27,040 | $21,740 | $29,660 | $31,410 |
| 303 | Huntsville, AL | $27,020 | $22,010 | $29,490 | $29,030 |
| 304 | Mansfield, OH | $27,020 | $23,400 | $28,790 | $30,400 |
| 305 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $26,960 | $22,050 | $29,370 | $29,480 |
| 306 | Rocky Mount, NC | $26,960 | $21,130 | $29,830 | $30,630 |
| 307 | Florence, SC | $26,940 | $21,530 | $29,600 | $31,050 |
| 308 | Beckley, WV | $26,920 | $20,630 | $30,010 | $30,460 |
| 309 | New Orleans, LA | $26,890 | $21,800 | $29,410 | $29,040 |
| 310 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $26,810 | $21,630 | $29,350 | $29,480 |
| 311 | Weirton, WV-OH | $26,810 | $22,400 | $28,970 | $30,120 |
| 312 | Brunswick, GA | $26,790 | $20,740 | $29,760 | $30,540 |
| 313 | Youngstown, OH | $26,790 | $22,920 | $28,680 | $30,650 |
| 314 | Erie, PA | $26,730 | $21,650 | $29,220 | $29,390 |
| 315 | Manhattan, KS | $26,620 | $21,530 | $29,120 | $29,520 |
| 316 | Amarillo, TX | $26,600 | $21,280 | $29,240 | $28,970 |
| 317 | Birmingham, AL | $26,600 | $21,900 | $28,930 | $29,030 |
| 318 | Terre Haute, IN | $26,580 | $21,170 | $29,240 | $30,270 |
| 319 | College Station, TX | $26,560 | $21,400 | $29,120 | $29,200 |
| 320 | Killeen, TX | $26,480 | $21,570 | $28,910 | $29,060 |
| 321 | Morristown, TN | $26,460 | $21,990 | $28,680 | $30,640 |
| 322 | Augusta, GA-SC | $26,440 | $21,110 | $29,080 | $28,770 |
| 323 | Daphne, AL | $26,370 | $20,610 | $29,200 | $27,850 |
| 324 | Elizabethtown, KY | $26,370 | $21,490 | $28,790 | $29,110 |
| 325 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $26,350 | $21,170 | $28,910 | $30,040 |
| 326 | Wichita, KS | $26,330 | $21,530 | $28,700 | $29,600 |
| 327 | Altoona, PA | $26,310 | $20,650 | $29,080 | $29,390 |
| 328 | Longview, TX | $26,310 | $21,650 | $28,600 | $29,400 |
| 329 | Tulsa, OK | $26,310 | $21,010 | $28,930 | $29,490 |
| 330 | Tyler, TX | $26,250 | $21,470 | $28,620 | $28,480 |
| 331 | Johnson City, TN | $26,210 | $21,570 | $28,500 | $29,810 |
| 332 | Jackson, TN | $26,190 | $21,740 | $28,390 | $30,620 |
| 333 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $26,190 | $22,280 | $28,100 | $29,650 |
| 334 | Rome, GA | $26,150 | $20,820 | $28,770 | $29,000 |
| 335 | Beaumont, TX | $26,120 | $21,340 | $28,500 | $29,010 |
| 336 | Parkersburg, WV | $26,120 | $20,700 | $28,810 | $30,000 |
| 337 | Abilene, TX | $26,060 | $21,340 | $28,390 | $28,840 |
| 338 | Owensboro, KY | $26,060 | $21,150 | $28,500 | $29,410 |
| 339 | Morgantown, WV | $26,020 | $20,650 | $28,680 | $27,880 |
| 340 | Hot Springs, AR | $25,940 | $22,900 | $27,440 | $30,260 |
| 341 | Sumter, SC | $25,900 | $21,400 | $28,100 | $29,430 |
| 342 | Auburn, AL | $25,830 | $20,720 | $28,370 | $29,370 |
| 343 | Decatur, AL | $25,750 | $21,440 | $27,870 | $29,530 |
| 344 | Johnstown, PA | $25,750 | $20,880 | $28,140 | $29,970 |
| 345 | Mobile, AL | $25,710 | $20,950 | $28,080 | $29,180 |
| 346 | Corpus Christi, TX | $25,670 | $21,070 | $27,910 | $27,700 |
| 347 | Wichita Falls, TX | $25,670 | $20,990 | $27,980 | $28,680 |
| 348 | Victoria, TX | $25,630 | $21,380 | $27,730 | $28,530 |
| 349 | Hinesville, GA | $25,580 | $21,090 | $27,810 | $27,230 |
| 350 | Cleveland, TN | $25,520 | $21,670 | $27,410 | $28,970 |
| 351 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $25,520 | $22,440 | $27,020 | $29,710 |
| 352 | Slidell, LA | $25,520 | $20,860 | $27,830 | $27,520 |
| 353 | Eagle Pass, TX | $25,480 | $20,760 | $27,810 | $30,400 |
| 354 | Huntington, WV-KY-OH | $25,480 | $21,150 | $27,600 | $28,820 |
| 355 | Macon, GA | $25,460 | $20,430 | $27,930 | $28,760 |
| 356 | Athens, GA | $25,380 | $20,610 | $27,730 | $27,190 |
| 357 | Lubbock, TX | $25,360 | $20,900 | $27,560 | $27,770 |
| 358 | Oklahoma City, OK | $25,310 | $20,970 | $27,460 | $28,000 |
| 359 | Dalton, GA | $25,250 | $20,550 | $27,560 | $28,100 |
| 360 | McAllen, TX | $25,170 | $20,450 | $27,500 | $29,300 |
| 361 | Baton Rouge, LA | $25,130 | $21,200 | $27,060 | $27,680 |
| 362 | San Angelo, TX | $25,130 | $20,510 | $27,390 | $27,180 |
| 363 | Valdosta, GA | $25,110 | $20,130 | $27,560 | $28,450 |
| 364 | Gulfport, MS | $25,080 | $20,090 | $27,560 | $27,860 |
| 365 | Columbus, GA-AL | $25,040 | $20,130 | $27,460 | $28,040 |
| 366 | Charleston, WV | $24,920 | $19,200 | $27,730 | $28,090 |
| 367 | Montgomery, AL | $24,920 | $20,800 | $26,960 | $27,790 |
| 368 | Brownsville, TX | $24,860 | $20,180 | $27,160 | $28,920 |
| 369 | El Paso, TX | $24,860 | $20,320 | $27,080 | $27,650 |
| 370 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $24,840 | $21,200 | $26,620 | $29,570 |
| 371 | Albany, GA | $24,560 | $19,910 | $26,850 | $28,010 |
| 372 | Laredo, TX | $24,320 | $20,400 | $26,250 | $27,970 |
| 373 | Anniston, AL | $24,190 | $20,550 | $25,980 | $28,140 |
| 374 | Hammond, LA | $24,190 | $19,800 | $26,330 | $28,640 |
| 375 | Lafayette, LA | $24,040 | $19,780 | $26,150 | $27,570 |
| 376 | Jackson, MS | $23,940 | $19,780 | $26,000 | $26,880 |
| 377 | Florence, AL | $23,900 | $20,180 | $25,730 | $28,180 |
| 378 | Gadsden, AL | $23,900 | $19,910 | $25,880 | $27,900 |
| 379 | Lake Charles, LA | $23,840 | $20,180 | $25,630 | $27,770 |
| 380 | Shreveport, LA | $23,840 | $20,070 | $25,710 | $28,120 |
| 381 | Enid, OK | $23,800 | $19,860 | $25,730 | $28,240 |
| 382 | Lawton, OK | $23,710 | $19,640 | $25,730 | $27,590 |
| 383 | Houma, LA | $23,520 | $19,530 | $25,480 | $27,640 |
| 384 | Dothan, AL | $23,250 | $19,800 | $24,940 | $27,730 |
| 385 | Hattiesburg, MS | $23,190 | $19,570 | $24,960 | $26,460 |
| 386 | Alexandria, LA | $22,820 | $18,990 | $24,710 | $26,630 |
| 387 | San Juan, PR | $22,670 | $21,900 | $23,050 | N/A |
| 388 | Monroe, LA | $22,360 | $18,930 | $24,040 | $26,750 |
| 389 | Aguadilla, PR | $22,260 | $21,840 | $22,460 | N/A |
More
More on fast food workers
Method
About these numbers
- Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
- Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
- OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
- At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.
Questions
Fast Food Worker salary by city: FAQ
Which city pays fast food workers the most?
San Jose, CA, where the average (mean) wage is $44,970 a year, followed by San Francisco, CA ($44,620), Napa, CA ($44,010), Vallejo, CA ($42,760). The national mean is $32,150 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Where do fast food workers earn the most after cost of living?
Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in El Centro, CA ($41,940 at national prices, $39,920 nominal), San Jose, CA ($40,730 at national prices, $44,970 nominal), Merced, CA ($40,680 at national prices, $39,980 nominal).
How much do fast food workers make in the biggest cities?
New York, NY-NJ: $37,130; Los Angeles, CA: $41,080; Chicago, IL-IN: $34,690; Dallas, TX: $29,350; Houston, TX: $27,640 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).
Where do fast food workers earn the least?
Of the 389 metro areas with their own estimate, Aguadilla, PR has the lowest mean wage, $22,260.