Fast Food and Counter Workers pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,700 a year or less, while the top 10% make $34,320 or more. The middle half of fast food and counter workers in Chattanooga earn between $23,100 and $28,580.
- $22K10th
- $23K25th
- $27KMedian
- $29K75th
- $34K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $26,950 | $2,246 | $12.96 |
| Median | $27,140 | $2,262 | $13.05 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $23,100 | $1,925 | $11.11 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $28,580 | $2,382 | $13.74 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Fast Food and Counter Workers pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Fast food and counter workers in Chattanooga earn 3% less than the Tennessee average ($27,870) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($32,150). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $31,200.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $26,950 | $27,140 | $21,700 | $34,320 | 7,770 |
| Tennessee | $27,870 | $27,470 | $21,850 | $35,060 | 90,690 |
| 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 Chattanooga
On the average salary of $26,950, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $23,803 a year, or $1,984 a month and $916 every two weeks. Taxes take 12% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $23,803 | $1,984 |
| Working in GA | $23,207 | $1,934 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for fast food and counter workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $26,950 buys what about $29,465 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 12.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 5th of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($29,430).
- Nashville$29,430
- Memphis$27,980
- Knoxville$27,950
- Kingsport$27,270
- Chattanooga$26,950
- Clarksville$26,800
- Morristown$26,460
- Johnson City$26,220
- Jackson$26,190
- Cleveland$25,520
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 Chattanooga: questions
How much do fast food and counter workers make an hour in Chattanooga?
$12.96 an hour on average, and $13.05 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level fast food and counter workers salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,700 a year and the 25th percentile is $23,100, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the fast food and counter workers take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $23,803 a year ($1,984 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $26,950. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do fast food and counter workers earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% 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 Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.17, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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