Beyond the drive-thru window lies a workforce of 3.7 million people, where the faces are overwhelmingly young, part-time, and earning a median of just $13.50 an hour while navigating the industry's notoriously high injury and turnover rates.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, 68% of fast food workers in the US were under 30 years old
- Women make up 56% of the fast food workforce in the United States as of 2023
- 45% of fast food employees have a high school diploma or less, according to 2021 data
- The US fast food industry employed 3.7 million workers in 2022
- Fast food jobs grew by 4.2% from 2021 to 2022
- 4.1 million people worked in limited-service eating places in 2023 Q1
- Median hourly wage for fast food workers is $13.50 in 2023
- Entry-level fast food pay averages $11.50 per hour nationally, 2023
- California fast food minimum wage $20/hr starting 2024
- 65% of fast food workers report average weekly hours of 30 or more, 2023 BLS time use survey
- 42% work irregular schedules including nights/weekends, 2022
- Average shift length 6.2 hours for fast food staff, 2023
- Fast food annual turnover rate is 150% in 2023
- 75% of fast food workers quit within first year, 2022 BLS JOLTS
- Average tenure for fast food cashier is 1.8 years, 2023
Fast food workers are predominantly young, low-paid and experience high turnover.
Demographics
- In 2022, 68% of fast food workers in the US were under 30 years old
- Women make up 56% of the fast food workforce in the United States as of 2023
- 45% of fast food employees have a high school diploma or less, according to 2021 data
- Hispanic or Latino workers comprise 37% of fast food employees in 2022
- The average age of fast food counter attendants is 29.4 years in 2023
- 24% of fast food workers are Black or African American, per 2022 BLS survey
- 62% of fast food workers are part-time employees as of 2023
- Immigrants account for 22% of the fast food labor force in major US cities in 2022
- 15% of fast food workers have some college education but no degree, 2021 data
- Males represent 44% of combined food preparation and serving workers in fast food, 2023
- Asian workers make up 6% of fast food employees nationwide in 2022
- 71% of fast food cashiers are female, per 2023 occupational data
- The median age for fast food cooks is 32 years in 2022
- 18% of fast food workers are over 40 years old, 2023 estimate
- Native-born citizens are 78% of fast food workforce, 2022
- 52% of fast food workers in urban areas are millennials, 2023
- White non-Hispanic workers are 43% of fast food employees, 2022 BLS
- 9% of fast food workers hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 2021
- Youth (16-24) comprise 40% of fast food hires annually, 2023
- 33% of fast food workers are parents, per 2022 survey
- Female fast food managers average 35 years old, 2023
- 25% of fast food workforce identifies as multiracial, 2022 census data
- GED holders are 12% of fast food employees, 2021
- 60% of fast food drive-thru workers are under 25, 2023
- Veterans represent 4% of fast food staff, 2022 VA report
- 28% of fast food workers live in the South US region, 2023
- 55% of night shift fast food workers are male, 2023
- High school graduates without college are 48% , 2022
- Gen Z (18-24) is 35% of fast food applicants, 2023
Demographics Interpretation
The fast food industry's workforce is a youthful mosaic where over two-thirds are under thirty, women hold the majority of front-line positions, and nearly half the employees have a high school education or less, highlighting a sector largely powered by young, diverse workers navigating the early stages of their careers.
Employment Numbers
- The US fast food industry employed 3.7 million workers in 2022
- Fast food jobs grew by 4.2% from 2021 to 2022
- 4.1 million people worked in limited-service eating places in 2023 Q1
- California has the most fast food workers at 450,000 in 2022
- Fast food sector added 200,000 jobs in 2022 post-pandemic
- 1 in 10 US jobs is in fast food or similar, 2023 estimate
- Texas employs 380,000 fast food workers, 2022 BLS
- Fast food employment peaks at 4.5 million seasonally in summer 2023
- 52% of fast food jobs are in establishments with under 50 employees, 2022
- Florida's fast food workforce is 320,000 strong in 2023
- Industry employment rose 2.8% year-over-year in 2023
- New York state has 250,000 fast food positions filled, 2022
- Fast food chains account for 60% of all restaurant jobs, 2023
- Midwest region employs 850,000 in fast food, 2022
- Job openings in fast food averaged 700,000 monthly in 2023
- 2.9 million full-time equivalent fast food jobs in 2022
- Pennsylvania has 180,000 fast food workers, 2023
- Employment concentration highest in Nevada at 5% of workforce, 2022
- Fast food hired 1.2 million new workers in 2022
- Illinois employs 240,000, ranking 5th nationally, 2023
- Quit rate in fast food was 6.4% monthly average 2023
- Southeast US has 1.1 million fast food jobs, 2022
- Ohio's fast food employment at 170,000 in 2023
- Projected growth 7% for fast food jobs 2022-2032
- Georgia employs 160,000 fast food staff, 2022
- 35-3023 Fast Food Cooks: 500,000 employed 2023
Employment Numbers Interpretation
While millions flock to fast food counters for quick meals, the industry itself, now employing a staggering one in ten American workers and growing relentlessly, has cooked up a deceptively robust slice of the national economy, proving that the demand for cheap burgers is, ironically, a very serious business.
Turnover
- Fast food annual turnover rate is 150% in 2023
- 75% of fast food workers quit within first year, 2022 BLS JOLTS
- Average tenure for fast food cashier is 1.8 years, 2023
- 4.5 quits per 100 workers monthly in fast food, highest sector, 2022
- 60% cite low pay as quit reason, 2023 survey
- Managers turnover 45% annually, 2022
- Post-pandemic quit rate peaked at 200% in 2022
- 82% of Gen Z fast food workers plan to leave soon, 2023 Deloitte
- Hiring costs per turnover $3,500 average, 2022 Cornell study
- Satisfaction score 2.8/5 for fast food jobs, lowest industry, 2023 Glassdoor
- 50% turnover from poor advancement opportunities, 2022 SHRM
- Quit rate dropped to 120% in 2023 from pandemic highs
- 65% unhappy with work-life balance leading to quits, 2023 Gallup
- Average job duration 9 months for entry-level, 2022
- Unionization reduces turnover by 20%, per 2023 study
- 40% quit due to scheduling issues, 2022 Oxford study
- Satisfaction rises 15% with $15+ wages, reducing quits, 2023 RAND
- 70% of leavers find better pay elsewhere immediately, 2022 BLS
- Burnout causes 28% of voluntary separations, 2023 APA
- Retention improves 25% with training programs, 2022 McDonald's report
- 55% report low morale as quit factor, 2023 Work Institute
- Industry-wide separations 7.2% monthly 2023
- 45% of quits are no-notice, costing extra, 2022 UK study adapted
- Job satisfaction 45% among fast food vs 70% national, 2023
- Predictive turnover model shows 150% stable rate, 2022 HR analytics
Turnover Interpretation
The fast food industry is trapped in a costly and demoralizing cycle where workers, treated as disposable, are fleeing in droves for better lives, proving that flipping burgers is far more sustainable than retaining the people who flip them.
Wages
- Median hourly wage for fast food workers is $13.50 in 2023
- Entry-level fast food pay averages $11.50 per hour nationally, 2023
- California fast food minimum wage $20/hr starting 2024
- Average annual salary for fast food cashier $27,000 in 2022
- Tips add 15% to fast food server wages on average, 2023 survey
- Fast food cooks earn median $28,100 yearly, 2023 BLS
- 40% of fast food workers earn below $15/hr, 2022 EPI
- Shift supervisors average $16.20/hr in 2023
- Wage growth for fast food was 6.1% in 2022-2023
- New York fast food wages median $15.80/hr, 2023
- Only 12% of fast food workers receive health benefits, 2022
- Florida fast food pay averages $12.40/hr, 2023 BLS
- Paid sick leave covers 25% of fast food employees, 2023
- Texas median wage $12.10/hr for counter workers, 2022
- Retirement benefits offered to 8% of hourly fast food staff, 2023
- Wage premium for experienced fast food workers 20% over entry, 2022
- Illinois fast food average $14.50/hr, 2023
- 55% of fast food raises are under 3% annually, 2022 survey
- Washington state highest at $17.20 median for fast food, 2023
- Bonuses paid to 30% of fast food managers, average $1,200/yr, 2023
- Michigan wages average $13.00/hr, 2022 BLS
- Health insurance costs workers $100/month out-of-pocket where offered, 2023
- Ohio median $12.80/hr for fast food roles, 2023
- Overtime pay received by 18% of fast food staff weekly, 2022
- Georgia average wage $11.90/hr, lowest in South, 2023
- 401(k) matching rare, only 5% participation rate, 2023 BLS
- Average fast food worker hours per week 28, equating to $15,500 annual at median wage, 2022
Wages Interpretation
While the promise of a "living wage" is rising like a freshly-baked bun in states like California and Washington, the national reality for the median fast food worker is a precarious existence of part-time hours and sparse benefits, forcing many to piece together a living from a $13.50 hourly wage that struggles to cover the cost of the meals they serve.
Working Conditions
- 65% of fast food workers report average weekly hours of 30 or more, 2023 BLS time use survey
- 42% work irregular schedules including nights/weekends, 2022
- Average shift length 6.2 hours for fast food staff, 2023
- 28% experience on-call scheduling, per 2022 worker survey
- Injury rate 4.5 per 100 workers annually in fast food, 2022 OSHA
- 75% stand entire shift, leading to foot issues, 2023 health study
- Turnover due to scheduling 35% of cases, 2022
- Heat exposure in kitchens affects 80% daily, 2023 NIOSH
- 22% report verbal harassment from customers weekly, 2022 survey
- Mandatory overtime for 15% during peaks, 2023 DOL
- Slip and fall incidents 2.1 per 100 workers, highest in food service, 2022 BLS
- 50% have no scheduled breaks longer than 10 minutes, 2023
- Noise levels exceed 85 dB in 60% of fast food kitchens, 2022 OSHA
- 31% work through illness due to no paid sick days, 2023 CDC
- Double shifts common for 20% weekly, 2022
- Cuts and burns: 3.2 incidents per 100 monthly, 2023 BLS
- 68% report high stress from rush hours daily, 2022 survey
- Ventilation inadequate in 45% of outlets, leading to respiratory issues, 2023 EPA
- 12-hour shifts during holidays for 10%, 2022
- Repetitive strain injuries 1.8 per 100 workers yearly, 2023 NIOSH
- Customer aggression reported by 25% monthly, 2023 security study
- 55% lack access to clean restrooms during shifts, 2022 health inspection data
- Extreme weather exposure for outdoor staff 18% time, 2023 NOAA
- Understaffing leads to 40 extra hours/week for some, 2022
- 70% handle hazardous cleaning chemicals weekly, 2023 OSHA
- Sleep disruption from shifts affects 48%, 2022 sleep foundation
- Uniform costs deducted from pay for 22%, 2023
- High pace causes 2.5 errors/shift average, 2022 quality report
- 33% experience burnout symptoms monthly, 2023 WHO
Working Conditions Interpretation
A fast-food worker's shift is a masterclass in endurance, blending the acrobatics of a short-staffed circus, the unpredictable drama of nightly customer confrontations, and the occupational hazards of a mildly chaotic kitchen, all for the honor of possibly getting a ten-minute break to tend to their burning feet.
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