Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant earn a median $35,360 a year nationally. Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
U.S. median
$35,360
$17.00 per hour
Range
$28,030 – $46,120
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
293,900
across the U.S.
▲2.6%
Pay trend: The median for food servers, nonrestaurant in the U.S. rose from $34,460 (May 2024) to $35,360 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).
What food servers, nonrestaurant do
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)
- Openings per year
- 48,800
Employment of food servers, nonrestaurant is projected to grow 4.5% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 48,800 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$30,592
per year · effective tax rate 13.5%
$2,549Monthly
$1,275Twice a month
$1,177Every 2 weeks
$14.71Hourly
- Federal income tax$2,063
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,192
- Medicare (1.45%)$513
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$30,592
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,030 | $13.48 | $24,693 |
| 25th percentile | $31,190 | $15.00 | $27,241 |
| Median (50th) | $35,360 | $17.00 | $30,592 |
| 75th percentile | $38,500 | $18.51 | $33,115 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,120 | $22.17 | $39,237 |
Best cities for food servers, nonrestaurant (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $44,710 | $36,746 | $31,783 | 4,160 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $40,640 | $34,834 | $31,345 | 4,800 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $39,850 | $33,154 | $31,342 | 4,570 |
| 4 | St. Louis, MO | $34,340 | $29,096 | $30,599 | 3,250 |
| 5 | Tampa, FL | $34,480 | $29,885 | $29,621 | 2,470 |
| 6 | Columbus, OH | $32,250 | $27,988 | $29,317 | 2,550 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $35,690 | $30,173 | $29,205 | 3,230 |
| 8 | Cincinnati, OH | $32,070 | $27,849 | $29,201 | 3,490 |
| 9 | Detroit, MI | $35,170 | $29,195 | $29,108 | 3,210 |
| 10 | Minneapolis, MN | $36,420 | $30,314 | $28,919 | 6,740 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $37,540 | $31,257 | $28,707 | 5,760 |
| 12 | San Diego, CA | $38,260 | $31,905 | $28,515 | 3,400 |
| 13 | New York, NY | $39,120 | $32,097 | $28,515 | 19,450 |
| 14 | Baltimore, MD | $35,710 | $29,540 | $28,272 | 3,540 |
| 15 | Cleveland, OH | $30,350 | $26,514 | $28,229 | 3,230 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $35,670 | $29,220 | $28,206 | 12,200 |
| 17 | Boston, MA | $37,330 | $30,528 | $28,197 | 4,370 |
| 18 | Los Angeles, CA | $38,350 | $31,972 | $28,153 | 11,850 |
| 19 | Portland, OR | $37,230 | $29,666 | $28,141 | 2,720 |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | $33,560 | $28,026 | $28,010 | 2,800 |
| 21 | Orlando, FL | $32,170 | $28,029 | $27,637 | 4,300 |
| 22 | Philadelphia, PA | $33,300 | $27,914 | $27,219 | 7,610 |
| 23 | Miami, FL | $34,950 | $30,262 | $26,510 | 4,980 |
| 24 | Dallas, TX | $31,160 | $27,217 | $26,401 | 4,100 |
| 25 | Houston, TX | $29,050 | $25,522 | $25,876 | 3,480 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Francisco, CA — $44,710
- Seattle, WA — $40,640
- Denver, CO — $39,850
- New York, NY — $39,120
- Los Angeles, CA — $38,350
- San Diego, CA — $38,260
- Washington, DC — $37,540
- Boston, MA — $37,330
- Portland, OR — $37,230
- Minneapolis, MN — $36,420
- Baltimore, MD — $35,710
- Phoenix, AZ — $35,690
- Chicago, IL — $35,670
- Detroit, MI — $35,170
- Miami, FL — $34,950
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 | +3.6% | $32,285 | $33,110 – $52,630 | 17,520 |
| California | $39,010 | +3.5% | $32,468 | $35,120 – $57,550 | 32,430 |
| Colorado | $38,900 | +1.9% | $32,433 | $31,860 – $51,440 | 7,750 |
| Washington | $38,870 | +2.9% | $33,412 | $35,050 – $50,910 | 8,050 |
| Alaska | $38,090 | +21.0% | $32,785 | $25,140 – $46,160 | 430 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 | +0.9% | $31,540 | $36,400 – $54,650 | 1,260 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 | +1.2% | $31,220 | $31,250 – $68,170 | 880 |
| Maine | $37,680 | +6.8% | $31,062 | $31,570 – $45,000 | 540 |
| Vermont | $37,540 | +4.2% | $31,520 | $32,970 – $54,380 | 780 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 | +3.3% | $31,837 | $31,140 – $46,320 | 1,630 |
| Massachusetts | $36,750 | +0.6% | $30,091 | $33,990 – $47,630 | 5,830 |
| New Hampshire | $36,710 | +1.7% | $31,676 | $28,710 – $46,090 | 1,770 |
| Maryland | $36,650 | +4.7% | $30,251 | $31,840 – $42,930 | 6,600 |
| Oregon | $36,620 | +1.7% | $29,230 | $33,240 – $48,660 | 4,420 |
| New Jersey | $36,390 | +3.1% | $30,863 | $32,220 – $43,800 | 11,400 |
| Nevada | $36,030 | +6.8% | $31,130 | $29,110 – $51,000 | 1,820 |
| Minnesota | $36,000 | +2.0% | $29,999 | $31,760 – $44,370 | 11,090 |
| Connecticut | $35,950 | +0.5% | $30,373 | $34,040 – $42,850 | 5,050 |
| New Mexico | $35,740 | +14.9% | $30,328 | $29,750 – $45,190 | 670 |
| Arizona | $35,390 | +0.7% | $29,940 | $31,400 – $46,370 | 4,620 |
| Virginia | $35,090 | +3.4% | $29,171 | $29,040 – $42,930 | 7,420 |
| Illinois | $35,080 | +2.0% | $28,775 | $31,200 – $41,960 | 17,560 |
| Rhode Island | $34,860 | +3.7% | $29,500 | $31,320 – $42,990 | 1,020 |
| Wisconsin | $34,670 | +0.5% | $29,293 | $28,640 – $44,080 | 6,680 |
| Michigan | $34,260 | +8.0% | $28,503 | $28,730 – $38,180 | 7,700 |
| Idaho | $34,220 | +9.7% | $28,970 | $27,980 – $39,210 | 930 |
| Florida | $33,930 | +5.5% | $29,443 | $29,210 – $39,000 | 19,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $33,300 | +7.2% | $27,914 | $27,450 – $42,980 | 13,940 |
| Wyoming | $33,090 | +3.2% | $28,768 | $21,840 – $42,740 | 250 |
| Kentucky | $32,200 | +3.6% | $27,043 | $25,790 – $42,060 | 3,660 |
| Montana | $32,090 | +1.3% | $27,213 | $23,010 – $38,210 | 1,050 |
| South Dakota | $31,980 | +3.4% | $27,876 | $26,810 – $43,070 | 160 |
| Indiana | $31,840 | +0.5% | $26,854 | $26,360 – $38,350 | 3,900 |
| Missouri | $31,840 | +2.4% | $27,204 | $28,600 – $38,370 | 7,490 |
| South Carolina | $31,740 | +5.3% | $26,936 | $19,100 – $37,480 | 2,990 |
| Nebraska | $31,540 | +2.0% | $26,945 | $28,790 – $38,510 | 3,800 |
| Georgia | $31,530 | −1.2% | $26,501 | $25,850 – $39,610 | 4,970 |
| North Carolina | $31,460 | +2.9% | $26,712 | $23,760 – $40,110 | 8,820 |
| Delaware | $31,430 | −0.8% | $26,367 | $31,200 – $44,730 | 1,010 |
| Tennessee | $30,670 | +5.6% | $26,823 | $22,620 – $46,750 | 5,230 |
| Ohio | $30,440 | +3.6% | $26,584 | $26,450 – $38,310 | 15,320 |
| Utah | $30,170 | +6.7% | $26,030 | $23,120 – $41,600 | 2,430 |
| West Virginia | $30,170 | +2.3% | $25,650 | $22,480 – $38,280 | 460 |
| Iowa | $30,110 | +2.9% | $25,881 | $27,020 – $36,600 | 5,270 |
| Texas | $29,300 | −1.0% | $25,723 | $21,930 – $36,930 | 14,340 |
| Kansas | $29,040 | +10.6% | $24,667 | $21,770 – $35,250 | 1,270 |
| Alabama | $29,000 | +4.3% | $24,297 | $23,080 – $35,770 | 2,920 |
| Oklahoma | $28,490 | +5.0% | $24,335 | $23,030 – $37,850 | 1,760 |
| Arkansas | $27,600 | +3.8% | $23,475 | $23,920 – $34,430 | 3,540 |
| Mississippi | $27,250 | +10.9% | $23,692 | $19,940 – $34,270 | 1,860 |
| Louisiana | $27,200 | +6.5% | $23,579 | $18,580 – $32,540 | 2,380 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waiter and Waitress | $35,230 | No formal educational credential | +2.0% |
| Bartender | $34,340 | No formal educational credential | +5.0% |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $31,200 | No formal educational credential | +5.8% |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,320 | No formal educational credential | -3.0% |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,840 | No formal educational credential | +5.5% |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,880 | No formal educational credential | -5.2% |
| Dishwasher | $34,810 | No formal educational credential | -1.0% |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $33,980 | No formal educational credential | +5.3% |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,390 | No formal educational credential | +12.1% |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,450 | No formal educational credential | +2.8% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food servers, nonrestaurant make?
The national median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant is $35,360 a year ($17.00 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $28,030 and the top 10% earn over $46,120. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays food servers, nonrestaurant the most?
New York has the highest median pay at $39,370. After taxes and local prices, San Francisco, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant are there in the U.S.?
About 293,900 people work as food servers, nonrestaurant nationwide.