Fast Food and Counter Workers pay range in Winston-Salem
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,430 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,580 or more. The middle half of fast food and counter workers in Winston-Salem earn between $24,120 and $34,100.
- $21K10th
- $24K25th
- $29KMedian
- $34K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $29,270 | $2,439 | $14.07 |
| Median | $28,640 | $2,387 | $13.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $24,120 | $2,010 | $11.60 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $34,100 | $2,842 | $16.39 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Fast Food and Counter Workers pay in Winston-Salem vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Fast food and counter workers in Winston-Salem earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($29,050) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($32,150). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $31,200.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winston-Salem | $29,270 | $28,640 | $21,430 | $36,580 | 4,900 |
| North Carolina | $29,050 | $28,570 | $21,800 | $36,820 | 92,230 |
| United States | $32,150 | $31,200 | $22,840 | $42,650 | 3,854,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary after taxes in Winston-Salem
On the average salary of $29,270, a single filer in Winston-Salem takes home about $25,039 a year, or $2,087 a month and $963 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Winston-Salem a good place for fast food and counter workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Winston-Salem area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.0), so the average $29,270 buys what about $31,800 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Winston-Salem ($46,380). A typical home costs $283,871, or 9.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in other North Carolina cities
Winston-Salem ranks 5th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Durham pays the most ($30,280).
- Durham$30,280
- Raleigh$30,030
- Charlotte$29,910
- Asheville$29,430
- Winston-Salem$29,270
- Burlington$28,610
- Jacksonville$28,510
- Greensboro$28,490
- Fayetteville$28,240
- Hickory$28,240
All Fast Food and Counter Workers salaries in North Carolina
Highest-paying cities for fast food and counter workers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($44,980).
- San Jose, CA$44,980
- San Francisco, CA$44,620
- Napa, CA$44,010
- Vallejo, CA$42,760
- Santa Rosa, CA$42,640
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Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Winston-Salem: questions
How much do fast food and counter workers make an hour in Winston-Salem?
$14.07 an hour on average, and $13.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level fast food and counter workers salary in Winston-Salem?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,430 a year and the 25th percentile is $24,120, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the fast food and counter workers take-home pay in Winston-Salem?
About $25,039 a year ($2,087 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $29,270.
Do fast food and counter workers earn more in Winston-Salem than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less than the U.S. average for this job ($32,150).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3023; area Winston-Salem, NC (49180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.73, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.73).
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