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Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in St. Louis, MO

Fast Food and Counter Workers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metropolitan area earn a median of $31,260 a year, an average of $32,800. About 19,170 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
$31,260
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$32,800
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$29,470
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$36,480
Top of the range
People employed
19,170
In St. Louis metro area
Rent share of median wage
37.5%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in St. Louis

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

Median gross rent
$978
per month, in St. Louis, MO
Income needed for median rent
$39,100
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median fast food and counter workers wage
$31,260
20.1% below income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
37.5%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$55,279
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 St. Louis area. Read the St. Louis, MO 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

Lincoln, NE
-8.8%
Median $28,510
Mean $30,400
Employed 5,950
Median $35,420
Mean $37,130
Employed 166,040
Median $33,280
Mean $34,770
Employed 3,600
Durham, NC
-6.7%
Median $29,170
Mean $30,280
Employed 5,350
Median $28,200
Mean $28,490
Employed 6,790
Median $28,250
Mean $28,520
Employed 27,460
Newark, NJ
+13.3%
Median $35,420
Mean $37,130
Employed 166,040
St. Paul, MN
+5.7%
Median $33,040
Mean $33,150
Employed 37,920

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 $31,260 / year
$31,260
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
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State income tax Missouri (MO)
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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 St. Louis, MO: FAQ

How much do fast food and counter workers make in St. Louis, MO?

The median salary for fast food and counter workers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $31,260 a year (about $15 an hour for full-time work). The average is $32,800, pulled up by the top earners.

Is $31,260 a good salary for fast food and counter workers in St. Louis, MO?

It is below the $39,100 needed to keep the median rent of $978 a month at 30% of gross income: the median rent would take 37.5% of this wage.

What do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers earn in St. Louis, MO?

The top 10% earn more than $36,480 a year, while the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $29,470.

How many fast food and counter workers work in St. Louis, MO?

About 19,170 people work in this occupation in the St. Louis, MO-IL 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.