Fast Food and Counter Workers pay range in El Centro
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,820 or more. The middle half of fast food and counter workers in El Centro earn between $36,340 and $42,560.
- $35K10th
- $36K25th
- $39KMedian
- $43K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,920 | $3,327 | $19.19 |
| Median | $38,840 | $3,237 | $18.67 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,340 | $3,028 | $17.47 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $42,560 | $3,547 | $20.46 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Fast Food and Counter Workers pay in El Centro vs. California and the U.S.
Fast food and counter workers in El Centro earn 4% less than the California average ($41,680) and 24% more than the U.S. average ($32,150). At the median the gap is +24% against the U.S. median of $31,200.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro | $39,920 | $38,840 | $34,530 | $45,820 | 1,630 |
| California | $41,680 | $42,280 | $35,530 | $47,950 | 449,840 |
| 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 El Centro
On the average salary of $39,920, a single filer in El Centro takes home about $33,523 a year, or $2,794 a month and $1,289 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is El Centro a good place for fast food and counter workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the El Centro area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.2), so the average $39,920 buys what about $41,944 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in El Centro ($45,140). A typical home costs $379,330, or 9.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in other California cities
El Centro ranks 22nd of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($44,980).
- San Jose$44,980
- San Francisco$44,620
- Napa$44,010
- Vallejo$42,760
- Santa Rosa$42,640
- Salinas$41,880
- Sacramento$41,850
- Modesto$41,600
- Santa Cruz$41,580
- El Centro$39,920
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 El Centro: questions
How much do fast food and counter workers make an hour in El Centro?
$19.19 an hour on average, and $18.68 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level fast food and counter workers salary in El Centro?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,340, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the fast food and counter workers take-home pay in El Centro?
About $33,523 a year ($2,794 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,920. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do fast food and counter workers earn more in El Centro than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% more 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 El Centro, CA (20940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.01, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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