Fast Food and Counter Workers pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,170 a year or less, while the top 10% make $34,370 or more. The middle half of fast food and counter workers in Lexington earn between $23,710 and $30,840.
- $22K10th
- $24K25th
- $28KMedian
- $31K75th
- $34K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $27,810 | $2,318 | $13.37 |
| Median | $27,990 | $2,332 | $13.46 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $23,710 | $1,976 | $11.40 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $30,840 | $2,570 | $14.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Fast Food and Counter Workers pay in Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Fast food and counter workers in Lexington earn 3% more than the Kentucky average ($26,890) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($32,150). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $31,200.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $27,810 | $27,990 | $22,170 | $34,370 | 5,500 |
| Kentucky | $26,890 | $27,130 | $21,590 | $34,420 | 41,860 |
| 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 Lexington
On the average salary of $27,810, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $22,891 a year, or $1,908 a month and $880 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for fast food and counter workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $27,810 buys what about $29,939 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 11.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 2nd of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Louisville pays the most ($28,750).
- Louisville$28,750
- Lexington$27,810
- Bowling Green$27,140
- Paducah$27,050
- Elizabethtown$26,380
- Owensboro$26,070
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 Lexington: questions
How much do fast food and counter workers make an hour in Lexington?
$13.37 an hour on average, and $13.46 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level fast food and counter workers salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,170 a year and the 25th percentile is $23,710, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the fast food and counter workers take-home pay in Lexington?
About $22,891 a year ($1,908 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $27,810. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do fast food and counter workers earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.77, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.77).
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