Fast Food and Counter Workers pay range in Des Moines
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,870 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,400 or more. The middle half of fast food and counter workers in Des Moines earn between $27,580 and $35,520.
- $22K10th
- $28K25th
- $29KMedian
- $36K75th
- $36K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $29,940 | $2,495 | $14.39 |
| Median | $29,140 | $2,428 | $14.01 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,580 | $2,298 | $13.26 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,520 | $2,960 | $17.08 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Fast Food and Counter Workers pay in Des Moines vs. Iowa and the U.S.
Fast food and counter workers in Des Moines earn 3% more than the Iowa average ($28,940) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($32,150). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $31,200.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | $29,940 | $29,140 | $21,870 | $36,400 | 10,060 |
| Iowa | $28,940 | $28,390 | $21,620 | $35,990 | 40,290 |
| 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 Des Moines
On the average salary of $29,940, a single filer in Des Moines takes home about $25,711 a year, or $2,143 a month and $989 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Is Des Moines a good place for fast food and counter workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Des Moines area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.7), so the average $29,940 buys what about $32,650 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Des Moines ($51,820). A typical home costs $296,070, or 9.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in other Iowa cities
Des Moines ranks 2nd of 8 Iowa metro areas for this job; Davenport pays the most ($30,390).
- Davenport$30,390
- Des Moines$29,940
- Iowa City$29,850
- Ames$29,560
- Sioux City$29,550
- Dubuque$29,180
- Cedar Rapids$28,880
- Waterloo$28,660
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 Des Moines: questions
How much do fast food and counter workers make an hour in Des Moines?
$14.39 an hour on average, and $14.01 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level fast food and counter workers salary in Des Moines?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,870 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,580, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the fast food and counter workers take-home pay in Des Moines?
About $25,711 a year ($2,143 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $29,940. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do fast food and counter workers earn more in Des Moines than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (19780). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.00, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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