Salaries › Fast Food Worker › California
Fast Food Worker Salary in California (2026)
$20.33 per hour · take-home ≈ $35,318/year ($2,943/month) for a single filer
Fast Food Worker pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $35,530 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $36,790 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $42,280 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $44,970 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $47,950 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 449,840 Fast Food Worker jobs in California (occupation code 35-3023, “Fast Food and Counter Workers”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Fast Food Worker salary of $42,280 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $35,318 — an effective tax rate of 16.5%.
| Gross (median) | $42,280 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,894 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,234 |
| California state income tax | −$834 |
| Take-home (annual) | $35,318 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,943 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Fast Food Worker make in California?
- The median Fast Food Worker salary in California is $42,280 per year ($20.33 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $36,790 and $44,970.
- What is the take-home pay for a Fast Food Worker in California?
- On the median salary of $42,280, a single filer in California takes home about $35,318 per year ($2,943 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.5%.
- How many Fast Food Worker jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 449,840 Fast Food Worker jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Fast Food Workers
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.