Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in San Francisco, CA
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $44,710 a year — 26% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,746 take-home, or $3,062 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food servers, nonrestaurant salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,185
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,772
- Medicare (1.45%)$648
- California income tax$778
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$581
- Take-home pay$36,746
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,630 | $18.57 | $32,182 | $2,682 |
| 25th percentile | $41,170 | $19.79 | $34,089 | $2,841 |
| Median (50th) | $44,710 | $21.50 | $36,746 | $3,062 |
| 75th percentile | $54,750 | $26.32 | $44,125 | $3,677 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $67,400 | $32.40 | $53,190 | $4,432 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $44,710 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food servers, nonrestaurant's $36,746 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,783 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 San Francisco, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for food servers, nonrestaurant, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #1 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.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salaries elsewhere in California
- San Diego, CA — $38,260
- Los Angeles, CA — $38,350
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food servers, nonrestaurant make in San Francisco, CA?
The median food servers, nonrestaurant salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $44,710 a year, or about $21.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $41,170 and $54,750.
What is a food servers, nonrestaurant’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $44,710 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $36,746 a year ($3,062 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,359 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a food servers, nonrestaurant?
Pay here is 26% above the national median of $35,360. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,783 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #1 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food servers, nonrestaurant afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 86% of a median food servers, nonrestaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $68,970
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $51,520
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $49,140
- Cooks, Fast Food — $46,670
- Cooks, Restaurant — $46,030
- Cooks, Short Order — $45,790
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $43,870
- Dishwasher — $42,100
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $41,970
- Food Preparation Worker — $41,000
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $39,810
- Bartender — $39,670