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Job outlook for fast food workers in the United States
Fast food worker job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected fast food worker job growth rate is 14% from 2018-2028.
About 775,300 new jobs for fast food workers are projected over the next decade.
Fast food worker salaries have increased 21% for fast food workers in the last 5 years.
There are over 28,524 fast food workers currently employed in the United States.
There are 156,271 active fast food worker job openings in the US.
The average fast food worker salary is $24,860.
Are fast food worker jobs in demand?
Yes, fast food worker jobs are in demand. Fast food worker demand is projected to grow 14% from 2018 to 2028.
Fast food worker job and salary trends over time
Compare the number of fast food worker jobs and the average fast food worker salary over time.
Fast food worker jobs over time
Fast food worker job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 28,524 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 31,795 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 36,834 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 41,873 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 40,734 | 0.01% |
Average fast food worker salary over time
Fast food worker salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $24,860 | $11.95 | +4.9% |
| 2024 | $23,702 | $11.40 | +5.7% |
| 2023 | $22,431 | $10.78 | +5.3% |
| 2022 | $21,301 | $10.24 | +3.8% |
| 2021 | $20,520 | $9.87 | +2.8% |
Fast food worker jobs by state
The map below shows you the number of fast food worker job openings in each state. The darker areas on the map show where fast food workers earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.
Average salary: Job openings:
Most common states for fast food workers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 298 | 34% |
| 2 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 934 | 30% |
| 3 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,377 | 28% |
| 4 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 545 | 28% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 380 | 28% |
| 6 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 2,825 | 27% |
| 7 | Delaware | 961,939 | 264 | 27% |
| 8 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 2,699 | 26% |
| 9 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,826 | 25% |
| 10 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,398 | 25% |
| 11 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 980 | 24% |
| 12 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 1,526 | 23% |
| 13 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 1,146 | 23% |
| 14 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 157 | 23% |
| 15 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 4,520 | 22% |
| 16 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 805 | 22% |
| 17 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 469 | 22% |
| 18 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,278 | 21% |
| 19 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 383 | 21% |
| 20 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 591 | 19% |
Most common cities for fast food workers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kaneohe | 1 | 3% | $22,108 |
| 2 | Altamonte Springs | 1 | 2% | $22,509 |
| 3 | Bradenton | 1 | 2% | $22,504 |
| 4 | Scottsdale | 2 | 1% | $26,190 |
| 5 | Tallahassee | 2 | 1% | $22,552 |
| 6 | Cambridge | 1 | 1% | $31,815 |
| 7 | Clearwater | 1 | 1% | $22,507 |
| 8 | Folsom | 1 | 1% | $24,761 |
| 9 | Frederick | 1 | 1% | $24,444 |
| 10 | Fullerton | 1 | 1% | $24,763 |
| 11 | Kissimmee | 1 | 1% | $22,502 |
| 12 | Phoenix | 2 | 0% | $26,192 |
| 13 | San Jose | 2 | 0% | $24,892 |
| 14 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $31,834 |
| 15 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $21,279 |