Fast Food and Counter Workers pay range in Denver
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,230 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,420 or more. The middle half of fast food and counter workers in Denver earn between $35,980 and $37,940.
- $33K10th
- $36K25th
- $37KMedian
- $38K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,240 | $3,187 | $18.38 |
| Median | $37,070 | $3,089 | $17.82 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,980 | $2,998 | $17.30 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,940 | $3,162 | $18.24 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Fast Food and Counter Workers pay in Denver vs. Colorado and the U.S.
Fast food and counter workers in Denver earn 4% more than the Colorado average ($36,890) and 19% more than the U.S. average ($32,150). At the median the gap is +19% against the U.S. median of $31,200.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $38,240 | $37,070 | $33,230 | $44,420 | 42,810 |
| Colorado | $36,890 | $36,270 | $31,040 | $44,100 | 82,010 |
| 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 Denver
On the average salary of $38,240, a single filer in Denver takes home about $31,932 a year, or $2,661 a month and $1,228 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 (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Is Denver a good place for fast food and counter workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Denver area are 6% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.8), so the average $38,240 buys what about $36,150 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Denver ($62,320). A typical home costs $573,221, or 15.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in other Colorado cities
Denver ranks 1st of 7 Colorado metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Denver$38,240
- Boulder$37,740
- Fort Collins$36,420
- Colorado Springs$35,170
- Greeley$34,100
- Grand Junction$33,600
- Pueblo$33,330
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 Denver: questions
How much do fast food and counter workers make an hour in Denver?
$18.38 an hour on average, and $17.82 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level fast food and counter workers salary in Denver?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,230 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,980, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the fast food and counter workers take-home pay in Denver?
About $31,932 a year ($2,661 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,240. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Do fast food and counter workers earn more in Denver than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO (19740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.07, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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