SOC 35-3023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Fast Food and Counter Workers — Elmira
Elmira, NY · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers in Elmira, NY is $32,950 per year, close to the national median of $31,200 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers in Elmira, NY is $32,950 per year, close to the national median of $31,200 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $32,240 and $34,560. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $32,240 and the ninetieth at $37,130.
Employment stands at 880, or 26.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Kingston records the highest median at $35,460. Of the 176 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 172nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,240 | +3.3% |
| 25th | $32,240 | +3.3% |
| Median (50th) | $32,950 | +5.6% |
| 75th | $34,560 | +10.8% |
| 90th | $37,130 | +19.0% |
| Mean | $34,110 | +9.3% |
Other metro areas in New York
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kingston | $35,460 | 1,440 | |
| 2 | New York | $35,420 | 166,040 | |
| 3 | Kiryas Joel | $35,320 | 6,280 | |
| 4 | Ithaca | $34,800 | 870 | |
| 5 | Buffalo | $34,560 | 14,170 | |
| 6 | Albany | $34,060 | 7,190 | |
| 7 | Syracuse | $33,940 | 6,750 | |
| 8 | Glens Falls | $33,890 | 980 | |
| 9 | Rochester | $33,430 | 11,310 | |
| 10 | Binghamton | $33,280 | 2,440 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Elmira run 7.9% above the national average, so the median of $32,950 buys what $30,538 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 2.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$32,950as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$30,538US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $32,950 a year, 5.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $32,240 to $37,130 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 880 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Kingston, at $35,460.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers in Elmira, NY?
The median annual wage is $32,950, or $15.84 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 Elmira, NY is 5.6% 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 Elmira, NY earns more than $37,130 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $32,240 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 Kingston, at $35,460 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 880 jobs in this occupation in Elmira, NY. 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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