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Fast Food and Counter Workers Salary in California

What Fast Food and Counter Workers earn in California, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 21 counties.

Average in CA
$42,322
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
1 of 44
published states
Workers in state
448,250
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
10
21 counties

Pay by labor market in California

Fast Food and Counter Workers pay by wage area in California
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$44,570$37,146−$5,801Santa Clara County, CA
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$43,870$36,611−$480Alameda County, CA
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$42,860$35,840$4,713Sacramento County, CA
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$42,370$35,466$1,435Ventura County, CA
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$42,280$35,397$5,326Riverside County, CA
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$42,190$35,329−$2,303San Diego County, CA
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$42,110$35,268−$3,168Los Angeles County, CA
Stockton-Lodi, CA$41,740$34,985$5,838San Joaquin County, CA
Fresno, CA$39,480$33,260$7,292Fresno County, CA
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$39,470$33,252$8,365Kern County, CA

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Fast Food and Counter Workers in California counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1Madera County, CA$39,480$33,260$8,384
2Kern County, CA$39,470$33,252$8,365
3Fresno County, CA$39,480$33,260$7,292
4Yolo County, CA$42,860$35,840$6,189
5San Joaquin County, CA$41,740$34,985$5,838
6Riverside County, CA$42,280$35,397$5,326
7San Bernardino County, CA$42,280$35,397$5,326
8Sacramento County, CA$42,860$35,840$4,713
9Placer County, CA$42,860$35,840$4,713
10El Dorado County, CA$42,860$35,840$4,713
11Ventura County, CA$42,370$35,466$1,435
12San Benito County, CA$44,570$37,146−$17
13Alameda County, CA$43,870$36,611−$480
14Contra Costa County, CA$43,870$36,611−$480
15San Diego County, CA$42,190$35,329−$2,303
16Los Angeles County, CA$42,110$35,268−$3,168
17Orange County, CA$42,110$35,268−$5,664
18Santa Clara County, CA$44,570$37,146−$5,801
19San Francisco County, CA$43,870$36,611−$9,036
20San Mateo County, CA$43,870$36,611−$9,036
21Marin County, CA$43,870$36,611−$9,036

Fast Food and Counter Workers pay in California

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Fast Food and Counter Workers in California is $42,322, based on 448,250 workers. Among the 44 states with published data, that ranks number 1. The BLS national median for the occupation is $31,200, so California averages 35.6% above it.

Inside California, pay depends on the labor market. The highest local median is $44,570 in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area and the lowest is $39,470 in Bakersfield-Delano, CA, a difference of $5,100 across 10 wage areas.

Cost of living for Fast Food and Counter Workers in California

We compare 21 California counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. Madera County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin, $8,384. In Marin County, CA the basics cost $9,036 more than take-home pay. The median wage covers all four basics in 11 of the 21 counties.

Fast Food and Counter Workers in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Fast Food and Counter Workers are Washington ($37,254), Colorado ($35,674), New Hampshire ($35,519) and Massachusetts ($35,426).

Frequently asked questions: Fast Food and Counter Workers in California

How much do Fast Food and Counter Workers earn in California?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $42,322, from $39,470 to $44,570 depending on the labor market.

Which California county is best for Fast Food and Counter Workers?

Madera County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics ($8,384). Kern County, CA follows at $8,365.