Occupational Focus: Fast Food and Counter Workers in Michigan

Employment and Wages

In 2025, there were 103,130 Fast food and counter workers in Michigan, making up less than 0.02 percent of total state employment. Nationally, there were 3,854,050 Fast food and counter workers in this occupation that made up 0.02 percent of overall employment in the U.S. The median hourly wage for this occupation in Michigan was $13.91 per hour in 2025. Nationally, the median hourly wage for Fast food and counter workers was slightly higher at $15.00.

Common Job Titles 

Examples of job titles in this position include:

• Cafe Server
• Cafeteria Server
• Cafeteria Worker
• Counter Worker
• Deli Worker

Some of this occupation’s responsibilities include:

• Accepting payment from customers and making change as necessary
• Serving customers in eating places that specialize in fast service and inexpensive carry-out food
• Requesting and recording customer orders, and computing bills, using cash registers, multi-counting machines, or pencil and paper
• Balancing receipts and payments in cash registers
• Communicating with customers regarding orders, comments, and complaints

Education and Skills 

Almost 87 percent of Fast food and counter workers have obtained a high school diploma or equivalent. A high school diploma is the typical education requirement for entry-level positions, with moderate-term on-the-job training. Essential skills include active listening, monitoring, speaking and critical thinking. The technology requirements frequently listed in job postings are computer-based training software, point-of-sale software, operating system software and office suite software (Microsoft Office software).

Most Related Occupations:

• Baristas
• Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
• Food preparation workers
  
• Food servers, nonrestaurant
• Waiters and waitresses

Outlook for Fast food and counter workers

As of April 2026, there were 2,300 online job advertisements for Fast food and counter workers in Michigan. This was a decrease of 12.3 percent since April 2025. The top three employers with the most job ads for this occupation in April were: Starbucks (220 ads), Walmart (160 ads), and Burger King (100 ads). This was one of the top 25 most posted occupations in eight of Michigan’s 10 prosperity regions. Visit Michigan’s Online Job Advertisement Dashboard for more information.

This occupation is projected to grow by 0.36 percent from 2022 to 2032, which is lower than Michigan’s projected 0.6 percent growth rate for all occupations. However, Fast food and counter workers are also projected to have a total of 26,385 annual openings through 2032, mostly due to the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force.

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