Fast Food and Counter Workers pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,600 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,460 or more. The middle half of fast food and counter workers in Merced earn between $36,510 and $42,970.
- $35K10th
- $37K25th
- $38KMedian
- $43K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,970 | $3,331 | $19.22 |
| Median | $38,200 | $3,183 | $18.37 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,510 | $3,042 | $17.55 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $42,970 | $3,581 | $20.66 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Fast Food and Counter Workers pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Fast food and counter workers in Merced 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 +22% against the U.S. median of $31,200.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $39,970 | $38,200 | $34,600 | $45,460 | 2,500 |
| 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 Merced
On the average salary of $39,970, a single filer in Merced takes home about $33,561 a year, or $2,797 a month and $1,291 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 Merced a good place for fast food and counter workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Merced area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.3), so the average $39,970 buys what about $40,672 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 10.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 21st 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
- Merced$39,970
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 Merced: questions
How much do fast food and counter workers make an hour in Merced?
$19.22 an hour on average, and $18.37 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level fast food and counter workers salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,600 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,510, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the fast food and counter workers take-home pay in Merced?
About $33,561 a year ($2,797 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,970. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do fast food and counter workers earn more in Merced 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 Merced, CA (32900). 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 1.27, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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