Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Portland, OR
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median $37,230 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,666 take-home, or $2,472 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food servers, nonrestaurant salary in Portland, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,288
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,308
- Medicare (1.45%)$540
- Oregon income tax$2,428
- Take-home pay$29,666
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.75% state
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro spans Oregon, Washington. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay by experience in Portland, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,340 | $16.99 | $28,313 | $2,359 |
| 25th percentile | $36,350 | $17.48 | $29,036 | $2,420 |
| Median (50th) | $37,230 | $17.90 | $29,666 | $2,472 |
| 75th percentile | $44,950 | $21.61 | $35,194 | $2,933 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,050 | $23.58 | $38,129 | $3,177 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,230 buys in Portland, OR
Prices in Portland, OR are 5.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.25× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food servers, nonrestaurant's $29,666 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,141 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 about as common in Portland, OR as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.19).
Best-paying cities for food servers, nonrestaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, OR ranks #19 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 |
| 19 | Portland, OR | $37,230 | $29,666 | $28,141 |
*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 Portland, OR?
The median food servers, nonrestaurant salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $37,230 a year, or about $17.90 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,350 and $44,950.
What is a food servers, nonrestaurant’s take-home pay in Portland, OR?
On the median $37,230 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $29,666 a year ($2,472 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,428 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a food servers, nonrestaurant?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $35,360. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,141 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, OR ranks #19 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food servers, nonrestaurant afford rent in Portland, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Portland, OR is $1,677 a month ($1,922 for two bedrooms) — 68% of a median food servers, nonrestaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Portland, OR
- Waiter and Waitress — $54,780
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $48,900
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $45,800
- Bartender — $45,590
- Cooks, Restaurant — $45,200
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $43,410
- Food Preparation Worker — $38,730
- Cooks, Fast Food — $38,580
- Dishwasher — $37,250
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $35,620