SOC 35-3023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Fast Food and Counter Workers — California
California · 10 metro areas compared
At $42,280 a year, the median wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers in California sits 35.5% above the national figure of $31,200.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $42,280 a year, the median wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers in California sits 35.5% above the national figure of $31,200. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $36,790 and $44,970. The lowest tenth earn under $35,530, while the highest tenth earn more than $47,950.
The area has 449,840 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 24.7 of every thousand jobs. California ranks number 1st out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Napa records the highest median at $45,410. Of the 793 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 725th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,530 | +13.9% |
| 25th | $36,790 | +17.9% |
| Median (50th) | $42,280 | +35.5% |
| 75th | $44,970 | +44.1% |
| 90th | $47,950 | +53.7% |
| Mean | $41,680 | +33.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Napa | $45,410 | 1,440 | |
| 2 | San Jose | $44,570 | 23,060 | |
| 3 | Vallejo | $44,110 | 4,430 | |
| 4 | San Francisco | $43,870 | 49,970 | |
| 5 | Santa Rosa | $43,610 | 4,720 | |
| 6 | Santa Cruz | $43,400 | 3,220 | |
| 7 | Salinas | $43,260 | 4,180 | |
| 8 | Santa Maria | $42,940 | 5,930 | |
| 9 | Sacramento | $42,860 | 24,910 | |
| 10 | Modesto | $42,630 | 6,700 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $42,280 buys what $38,193 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 22.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$42,280as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$38,193US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $42,280 a year, 35.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,530 to $47,950 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 449,840 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 1st of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Napa, at $45,410.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers in California?
The median annual wage is $42,280, or $20.33 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $31,200, so pay in California is 35.5% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $47,950 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,530 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Napa, at $45,410 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 449,840 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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