SOC 35-3023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Fast Food and Counter Workers — North Carolina
North Carolina · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in North Carolina is $28,570 a year, trailing the national median of $31,200 by 8.4%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in North Carolina is $28,570 a year, trailing the national median of $31,200 by 8.4%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $23,370 and $34,370. The lowest tenth earn under $21,800, while the highest tenth earn more than $36,820.
The area has 92,230 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 18.7 of every thousand jobs. North Carolina ranks number 35th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Durham records the highest median at $29,170. Of the 745 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 738th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,800 | −30.1% |
| 25th | $23,370 | −25.1% |
| Median (50th) | $28,570 | −8.4% |
| 75th | $34,370 | +10.2% |
| 90th | $36,820 | +18.0% |
| Mean | $29,050 | −6.9% |
Highest-paying metro areas in North Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham | $29,170 | 5,350 | |
| 2 | Raleigh | $29,080 | 12,790 | |
| 3 | Charlotte | $28,880 | 27,050 | |
| 4 | Asheville | $28,810 | 3,850 | |
| 5 | Winston-Salem | $28,640 | 4,900 | |
| 6 | Greensboro | $28,200 | 6,790 | |
| 7 | Fayetteville | $28,170 | 3,130 | |
| 8 | Goldsboro | $28,070 | 760 | |
| 9 | Greenville | $28,000 | 1,770 | |
| 10 | Burlington | $27,710 | 1,480 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in North Carolina run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $28,570 goes as far as $30,297 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$28,570as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$30,297US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $28,570 a year, 8.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $21,800 to $36,820 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 92,230 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 35th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Durham, at $29,170.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers in North Carolina?
The median annual wage is $28,570, or $13.74 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 North Carolina is 8.4% lower. 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 North Carolina earns more than $36,820 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $21,800 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 Durham, at $29,170 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 92,230 jobs in this occupation in North Carolina. 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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