Fast Food and Counter Workers Salary in West Virginia
In West Virginia, fast food and counter workers earn a median $26,070 a year, well below the national median of $31,200 (−16%); the state ranks 47th of 51 states by median. That is 42% less than the median across all occupations in West Virginia ($45,300). Every neighbouring state pays more: Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky range from $27,130 in Kentucky to $33,660 in Maryland. West Virginia employs 6,240 fast food and counter workers, 8.89 per 1,000 jobs, the 49th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.36 means it is less common in West Virginia than nationally.
West Virginia vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| West Virginia | Hourly | $9.02 | $10.66 | $12.54 | $14.23 | $16.90 | $12.88 | 6,240 | 8.89 | 0.36 |
| Annual | $18,750 | $22,160 | $26,070 | $29,610 | $35,150 | $26,780 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $10.98 | $13.32 | $15.00 | $17.34 | $20.51 | $15.46 | 3,854,050 | – | – |
| Annual | $22,840 | $27,700 | $31,200 | $36,070 | $42,650 | $32,150 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 47th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 49th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.36
- Jobs per 1,000
- 8.89
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of West Virginia's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in West Virginia
10 metropolitan areas and 2 nonmetropolitan areas touching West Virginia publish a row for fast food and counter workers, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $16.64 | $34,600 | $30,460 | $42,490 | 60,560 | 19.31 | 0.78 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $15.00 | $31,200 | $28,640 | $36,420 | 1,810 | 16.92 | 0.68 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $13.63 | $28,360 | $26,490 | $35,330 | 1,700 | 25.06 | 1.01 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $12.89 | $26,820 | $22,260 | $33,320 | 740 | 20.41 | 0.82 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $12.57 | $26,150 | $22,260 | $30,800 | 1,300 | 22.42 | 0.90 |
| Beckley, WV | $12.47 | $25,950 | $18,200 | $34,580 | 470 | 10.83 | 0.44 |
| Morgantown, WV | $11.65 | $24,230 | $18,950 | $34,700 | 640 | 9.46 | 0.38 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $11.30 | $23,500 | $21,470 | $32,610 | 2,590 | 18.40 | 0.74 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $11.18 | $23,260 | $19,290 | $34,620 | 330 | 9.12 | 0.37 |
| Charleston, WV | $10.76 | $22,380 | $18,720 | $34,710 | 730 | 7.02 | 0.28 |
| Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $11.01 | $22,890 | $19,100 | $34,370 | 1,130 | 7.77 | 0.31 |
| Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $10.96 | $22,800 | $18,290 | $34,890 | 570 | 7.56 | 0.30 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | $12.54 | $26,070 | 6,240 | 0.36 |
| Kentucky | $13.04 | $27,130 | 41,860 | 0.84 |
| Maryland | $16.18 | $33,660 | 49,380 | 0.72 |
| Ohio | $13.67 | $28,430 | 163,560 | 1.19 |
| Pennsylvania | $13.74 | $28,570 | 142,220 | 0.95 |
| Virginia | $14.48 | $30,110 | 104,460 | 1.03 |
See the national page for Fast Food and Counter Workers (every state ranked) and the West Virginia wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS West Virginia estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.