What is the best state to be a fast food and counter workers?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, California is the best state for a fast food and counter workers: a BLS median of $42,280 is worth $37,551 after the 2025 state income tax ($703) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 110.7), an index of 122.4 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. California has the highest headline BLS median for a fast food and counter workers at $42,280, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 122.4). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

Where does a fast food and counter workers salary go least far?

Louisiana ranks last of 51 states for a fast food and counter workers: a $22,800 BLS median is worth only $25,498 after tax and cost of living (index 83.1). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Fast Food and Counter Workers

Best States to Be a Fast Food and Counter Workers

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a fast food and counter workers salary goes furthest in California — a $42,280 BLS median worth $37,551 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 122.4).

Which US states are best for a fast food and counter workers after cost of living and tax?

For a fast food and counter workers, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks California #1: a $42,280 BLS median becomes $37,551 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 122.4). Louisiana ranks last ($25,498, index 83.1). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

California ranks #1 of 51 states for a fast food and counter workers. Index 100 = the average state; 122.4 means pay goes 22.4% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

122.4

Fast Food and Counter Workers — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	California	$42,280	$703	110.7	$37,551	122.4
2	Vermont	$36,030	$788	98.0	$35,976	117.3
3	Washington	$37,710	—	107.0	$35,239	114.9
4	Maine	$34,710	$844	97.0	$34,895	113.7
5	Colorado	$36,270	$936	103.1	$34,288	111.8
6	North Dakota	$30,080	—	89.0	$33,813	110.2
7	Arizona	$34,230	$381	100.7	$33,622	109.6
8	Connecticut	$35,380	$667	103.6	$33,503	109.2
9	South Dakota	$29,490	—	88.6	$33,290	108.5
10	District of Columbia	$37,430	$1,146	109.9	$33,015	107.6
11	Missouri	$30,390	$547	90.8	$32,860	107.1
12	Alaska	$33,280	—	102.4	$32,513	106.0
13	Massachusetts	$35,850	$1,573	105.8	$32,412	105.7
14	Illinois	$33,910	$1,537	100.0	$32,386	105.6
15	Nevada	$31,950	—	100.0	$31,957	104.2
16	Oregon	$35,050	$2,263	103.4	$31,721	103.4
17	Nebraska	$29,000	$503	90.1	$31,627	103.1
18	New York	$35,250	$1,334	107.9	$31,427	102.4
19	Iowa	$28,390	$1,039	87.8	$31,165	101.6
20	Hawaii	$35,250	$1,247	110.0	$30,925	100.8
21	Minnesota	$31,370	$878	98.6	$30,918	100.8
22	New Jersey	$34,150	$510	108.8	$30,918	100.8
23	Maryland	$33,660	$1,266	105.0	$30,863	100.6
24	New Mexico	$28,700	$345	92.2	$30,750	100.2
25	Ohio	$28,430	—	92.8	$30,644	99.9
26	New Hampshire	$31,590	—	104.2	$30,327	98.9
27	Delaware	$31,300	$1,060	99.8	$30,298	98.8
28	Rhode Island	$31,490	$581	102.3	$30,220	98.5
29	Wyoming	$27,860	—	92.7	$30,057	98.0
30	Montana	$29,090	$662	94.6	$30,036	97.9
31	Indiana	$28,790	$834	93.3	$29,955	97.6
32	Tennessee	$27,470	—	91.9	$29,901	97.5
33	Wisconsin	$28,600	$502	94.1	$29,861	97.3
34	Kansas	$27,580	$770	90.1	$29,766	97.0
35	Idaho	$28,940	$528	95.5	$29,753	97.0
36	North Carolina	$28,570	$672	94.3	$29,576	96.4
37	Arkansas	$26,250	$815	86.9	$29,257	95.4
38	South Carolina	$27,520	$269	93.7	$29,068	94.8
39	Michigan	$28,930	$983	96.2	$29,046	94.7
40	Kentucky	$27,130	$954	90.2	$29,033	94.6
41	Virginia	$30,110	$932	101.1	$28,860	94.1
42	Texas	$27,740	—	97.1	$28,581	93.2
43	West Virginia	$26,070	$638	89.5	$28,416	92.6
44	Pennsylvania	$28,570	$877	97.6	$28,382	92.5
45	Florida	$29,080	—	103.4	$28,120	91.7
46	Utah	$28,670	$1,304	98.9	$27,680	90.2
47	Georgia	$26,920	$804	96.3	$27,121	88.4
48	Oklahoma	$23,430	$575	87.8	$26,018	84.8
49	Mississippi	$22,610	$190	87.0	$25,784	84.0
50	Alabama	$23,700	$920	88.8	$25,647	83.6
51	Louisiana	$22,800	$309	88.2	$25,498	83.1

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In California, a $42,280 salary is worth about $33,108 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $5,623 (≈ top marginal 13.30% (upper bound)) · take-home $36,657 · BEA cost of living 110.7 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $47,728, a $14,620 gain over California.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$47,728	88.6
2	Arkansas	$46,736	86.9
3	Louisiana	$46,495	88.2
4	Mississippi	$46,485	87.0
5	Iowa	$46,345	87.8
6	North Dakota	$46,339	89.0
7	Tennessee	$46,022	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$45,845	87.8
9	Wyoming	$45,614	92.7
10	Alabama	$45,220	88.8
11	Kentucky	$45,019	90.2
12	West Virginia	$44,965	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Fast Food and Counter Workers — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a fast food and counter workers?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, California is the best state for a fast food and counter workers: a BLS median of $42,280 is worth $37,551 after the 2025 state income tax ($703) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 110.7), an index of 122.4 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. California has the highest headline BLS median for a fast food and counter workers at $42,280, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 122.4). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a fast food and counter workers salary go least far?: Louisiana ranks last of 51 states for a fast food and counter workers: a $22,800 BLS median is worth only $25,498 after tax and cost of living (index 83.1). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a fast food and counter workers is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.