SOC 35-3023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Fast Food and Counter Workers — Colorado
Colorado · 7 metro areas compared
In Colorado the median wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers is $36,270 a year, which is 16.3% higher than the national figure of $31,200.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Colorado the median wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers is $36,270 a year, which is 16.3% higher than the national figure of $31,200. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $33,900 and $37,710. The lowest tenth earn under $31,040, while the highest tenth earn more than $44,100.
The area has 82,010 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.15 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Colorado ranks number 4th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Denver records the highest median at $37,070. Of the 738 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 726th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,040 | −0.5% |
| 25th | $33,900 | +8.7% |
| Median (50th) | $36,270 | +16.3% |
| 75th | $37,710 | +20.9% |
| 90th | $44,100 | +41.3% |
| Mean | $36,890 | +18.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Colorado
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver | $37,070 | 42,810 | |
| 2 | Boulder | $36,190 | 4,880 | |
| 3 | Fort Collins | $34,850 | 5,770 | |
| 4 | Colorado Springs | $34,420 | 11,470 | |
| 5 | Greeley | $33,030 | 3,670 | |
| 6 | Grand Junction | $31,510 | 2,450 | |
| 7 | Pueblo | $31,100 | 2,160 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Colorado run 3.1% above the national average, so the median of $36,270 buys what $35,179 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 12.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$36,270as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$35,179US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,270 a year, 16.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,040 to $44,100 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 82,010 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 4th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Denver, at $37,070.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers in Colorado?
The median annual wage is $36,270, or $17.44 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 Colorado is 16.3% 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 Colorado earns more than $44,100 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,040 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 Denver, at $37,070 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 82,010 jobs in this occupation in Colorado. 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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