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Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Columbus, OH

Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Columbus, OH metropolitan area earn a median of $28,670 a year, an average of $29,580. About 31,590 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Fast Food and Counter Workers pay at a glance

Annual median wage
$28,670
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$29,580
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$23,580
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$35,210
Top of the range
People employed
31,590
In Columbus metro area
Rent share of median wage
51.2%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in Columbus

Rent from the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, compared with the wage above

Median gross rent
$1,224
per month, in Columbus, OH
Income needed for median rent
$49,000
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median fast food and counter workers wage
$28,670
41.5% below income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
51.2%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$65,327
All households, not one occupation

Occupations are not paid the same everywhere, and this page does not explain why. It reports what the survey measured for the Columbus area. Read the Columbus, OH cost of living page for rent, income and the price level, or the methodology for how the numbers are compiled.

Fast Food and Counter Workers pay in other cities

Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey

Median $28,880
Mean $29,910
Employed 27,050
Median $29,040
Mean $29,780
Employed 28,400
Median $28,070
Mean $29,350
Employed 128,380
Median $28,470
Mean $29,920
Employed 21,480
Austin, TX
+2.2%
Median $29,310
Mean $30,130
Employed 35,000
Median $43,870
Mean $44,620
Employed 49,970
San Jose, CA
+55.5%
Median $44,570
Mean $44,980
Employed 23,060
Seattle, WA
+36.6%
Median $39,150
Mean $42,260
Employed 49,190

See fast food and counter workers pay in every covered city.

Take-home pay calculator

Estimate your net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Adjust filing status and allowances for your situation.

$
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Gross annual income $28,670 / year
$28,670
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
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State income tax Ohio (OH)
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FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.65% up to wage base
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Pre-tax deductions 401(k), HSA, etc.
$0
Take-home pay (annual) After all taxes
—
Take-home per paycheck Monthly
—
Effective tax rate Total tax ÷ gross income
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Estimates use 2024 federal tax brackets, FICA rates (6.2% SS up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% >$200k), and state rates from Tax Foundation. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or tax credits. Consult a tax professional for actual liability.

Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Columbus, OH: FAQ

How much do fast food and counter workers make in Columbus, OH?

The median salary for fast food and counter workers in the Columbus, OH metro area is $28,670 a year (about $14 an hour for full-time work). The average is $29,580, pulled up by the top earners.

Is $28,670 a good salary for fast food and counter workers in Columbus, OH?

It is below the $49,000 needed to keep the median rent of $1,224 a month at 30% of gross income: the median rent would take 51.2% of this wage.

What do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers earn in Columbus, OH?

The top 10% earn more than $35,210 a year, while the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $23,580.

How many fast food and counter workers work in Columbus, OH?

About 31,590 people work in this occupation in the Columbus, OH metro area, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Definitions used on this page

Annual median wage
The wage that half of the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than, for one year of work.
Annual mean wage
The average of all reported wages. It is higher than the median when a few very high earners pull it up.
Percentiles
The 10th percentile is the wage below which 10% of workers fall; the 90th is the wage above which only 10% rise. The gap between them shows how wide the pay range is.
Employment
The estimated number of jobs in this occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.

Sources and limits

Wages describe the metropolitan area, while rent and income describe the city boundaries. The two areas do not cover exactly the same ground. Wages are also averaged across a year and across every industry, so a specific employer can differ widely from the median shown here.