Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $35,690 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,173 take-home, or $2,514 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food servers, nonrestaurant salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,103
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,213
- Medicare (1.45%)$518
- Arizona income tax$684
- Take-home pay$30,173
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,560 | $16.13 | $28,515 | $2,376 |
| 25th percentile | $33,970 | $16.33 | $28,834 | $2,403 |
| Median (50th) | $35,690 | $17.16 | $30,173 | $2,514 |
| 75th percentile | $38,540 | $18.53 | $32,392 | $2,699 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,370 | $22.29 | $38,488 | $3,207 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,690 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food servers, nonrestaurant's $30,173 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,205 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant jobs are less concentrated in Phoenix, AZ than nationally (location quotient 0.72), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food servers, nonrestaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Phoenix, AZ ranks #7 of 25 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $44,710 | $36,746 | $31,783 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $40,640 | $34,834 | $31,345 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $39,850 | $33,154 | $31,342 |
| 4 | St. Louis, MO | $34,340 | $29,096 | $30,599 |
| 5 | Tampa, FL | $34,480 | $29,885 | $29,621 |
| 6 | Columbus, OH | $32,250 | $27,988 | $29,317 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $35,690 | $30,173 | $29,205 |
| 8 | Cincinnati, OH | $32,070 | $27,849 | $29,201 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 25 metros →
About the job: food servers, nonrestaurant
Serve food to individuals outside of a restaurant environment, such as in hotel rooms, hospital rooms, residential care facilities, or cars.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.5% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food servers, nonrestaurant make in Phoenix, AZ?
The median food servers, nonrestaurant salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $35,690 a year, or about $17.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,970 and $38,540.
What is a food servers, nonrestaurant’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $35,690 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $30,173 a year ($2,514 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $684 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a food servers, nonrestaurant?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $35,360. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,205 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #7 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food servers, nonrestaurant afford rent in Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 for two bedrooms) — 63% of a median food servers, nonrestaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Phoenix, AZ
- Chef and Head Cook — $61,400
- Waiter and Waitress — $47,530
- Bartender — $46,940
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,100
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $40,120
- Cooks, Restaurant — $39,170
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,580
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $36,960
- Dishwasher — $35,780
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $35,080
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,540
- Cooks, Fast Food — $33,190