Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Fast Food and Counter Worker's pay go, state by state?
A Fast Food and Counter Worker's pay leaves the most room in North Dakota — about $1,918/mo take-home against $911/mo typical rent — and the least in Hawaii.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $1,918/mo | $911/mo | 47% |
| South Dakota | $1,895/mo | $910/mo | 48% |
| Vermont | $2,176/mo | $1,207/mo | 55% |
| Maine | $2,065/mo | $1,104/mo | 53% |
| Iowa | $1,841/mo | $932/mo | 51% |
| Missouri | $1,843/mo | $997/mo | 54% |
| West Virginia | $1,671/mo | $848/mo | 51% |
| Nebraska | $1,834/mo | $1,017/mo | 55% |
| Arkansas | $1,717/mo | $903/mo | 53% |
| Montana | $1,836/mo | $1,031/mo | 56% |
| Ohio | $1,779/mo | $986/mo | 55% |
| Michigan | $1,864/mo | $1,072/mo | 58% |
| Wyoming | $1,770/mo | $979/mo | 55% |
| Indiana | $1,804/mo | $1,022/mo | 57% |
| Wisconsin | $1,811/mo | $1,033/mo | 57% |
| New Mexico | $1,803/mo | $1,034/mo | 57% |
| Illinois | $1,998/mo | $1,246/mo | 62% |
| Minnesota | $1,940/mo | $1,230/mo | 63% |
| Kansas | $1,728/mo | $1,025/mo | 59% |
| Washington | $2,320/mo | $1,641/mo | 71% |
| Tennessee | $1,786/mo | $1,111/mo | 62% |
| North Carolina | $1,820/mo | $1,147/mo | 63% |
| Idaho | $1,811/mo | $1,163/mo | 64% |
| Oregon | $2,079/mo | $1,431/mo | 69% |
| Pennsylvania | $1,806/mo | $1,176/mo | 65% |
| Kentucky | $1,528/mo | $918/mo | 60% |
| New York | $2,231/mo | $1,621/mo | 73% |
| Colorado | $2,260/mo | $1,659/mo | 73% |
| Rhode Island | $1,873/mo | $1,289/mo | 69% |
| Delaware | $1,904/mo | $1,321/mo | 69% |
| Arizona | $2,001/mo | $1,419/mo | 71% |
| Alaska | $1,917/mo | $1,361/mo | 71% |
| Massachusetts | $2,265/mo | $1,716/mo | 76% |
| South Carolina | $1,676/mo | $1,131/mo | 67% |
| Connecticut | $2,023/mo | $1,483/mo | 73% |
| Oklahoma | $1,494/mo | $970/mo | 65% |
| Alabama | $1,487/mo | $967/mo | 65% |
| District of Columbia | $2,406/mo | $1,900/mo | 79% |
| Mississippi | $1,405/mo | $933/mo | 66% |
| New Hampshire | $1,893/mo | $1,424/mo | 75% |
| Utah | $1,856/mo | $1,396/mo | 75% |
| Louisiana | $1,452/mo | $1,028/mo | 71% |
| Texas | $1,710/mo | $1,328/mo | 78% |
| Nevada | $1,853/mo | $1,478/mo | 80% |
| New Jersey | $1,982/mo | $1,656/mo | 84% |
| Virginia | $1,866/mo | $1,547/mo | 83% |
| California | $2,286/mo | $1,969/mo | 86% |
| Maryland | $1,949/mo | $1,683/mo | 86% |
| Florida | $1,786/mo | $1,542/mo | 86% |
| Georgia | $1,521/mo | $1,320/mo | 87% |
| Hawaii | $1,890/mo | $1,927/mo | 102% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.