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.
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 | Fargo, ND | $36,720 | $31,685 | $34,868 | 540 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $46,210 | $37,871 | $34,297 | 1,960 |
| 3 | Duluth, MN | $35,880 | $29,909 | $33,693 | 670 |
| 4 | Rochester, MN | $35,630 | $29,721 | $32,725 | 590 |
| 5 | Fort Wayne, IN | $35,190 | $29,447 | $31,809 | 440 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $44,710 | $36,746 | $31,783 | 4,160 |
| 7 | Syracuse, NY | $36,770 | $30,336 | $31,685 | 540 |
| 8 | Winston, NC | $34,620 | $29,125 | $31,642 | 560 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $36,720 | $31,685 | $31,617 | 1,420 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | $40,640 | $34,834 | $31,345 | 4,800 |
| 11 | Denver, CO | $39,850 | $33,154 | $31,342 | 4,570 |
| 12 | Des Moines, IA | $33,790 | $28,698 | $31,295 | 1,060 |
| 13 | Madison, WI | $36,110 | $30,387 | $31,234 | 820 |
| 14 | Spokane, WA | $36,190 | $31,259 | $31,151 | 790 |
| 15 | Santa Rosa, CA | $40,180 | $33,346 | $30,938 | 520 |
| 16 | Kansas City, MO | $33,620 | $28,551 | $30,851 | 2,260 |
| 17 | Boulder, CO | $38,930 | $32,456 | $30,851 | 650 |
| 18 | Utica, NY | $34,430 | $28,582 | $30,840 | 470 |
| 19 | Bakersfield, CA | $37,140 | $31,064 | $30,791 | 490 |
| 20 | St. Louis, MO | $34,340 | $29,096 | $30,599 | 3,250 |
| 21 | Pittsburgh, PA | $34,630 | $28,942 | $30,571 | 2,340 |
| 22 | Atlantic City, NJ | $35,540 | $30,202 | $30,551 | 510 |
| 23 | Colorado Springs, CO | $36,690 | $30,754 | $30,539 | 770 |
| 24 | Rochester, NY | $35,780 | $29,594 | $30,498 | 1,300 |
| 25 | Nashville, TN | $33,830 | $29,362 | $30,479 | 2,240 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Jose, CA — $46,210
- San Francisco, CA — $44,710
- Seattle, WA — $40,640
- Santa Rosa, CA — $40,180
- Denver, CO — $39,850
- New York, NY — $39,120
- Boulder, CO — $38,930
- Santa Maria, CA — $38,740
- Sacramento, CA — $38,460
- Los Angeles, CA — $38,350
- San Diego, CA — $38,260
- Washington, DC — $37,540
- Oxnard, CA — $37,480
- Stockton, CA — $37,380
- Boston, MA — $37,330
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 | $32,285 | $33,110 – $52,630 | 17,520 |
| California | $39,010 | $32,468 | $35,120 – $57,550 | 32,430 |
| Colorado | $38,900 | $32,433 | $31,860 – $51,440 | 7,750 |
| Washington | $38,870 | $33,412 | $35,050 – $50,910 | 8,050 |
| Alaska | $38,090 | $32,785 | $25,140 – $46,160 | 430 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 | $31,540 | $36,400 – $54,650 | 1,260 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 | $31,220 | $31,250 – $68,170 | 880 |
| Maine | $37,680 | $31,062 | $31,570 – $45,000 | 540 |
| Vermont | $37,540 | $31,520 | $32,970 – $54,380 | 780 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 | $31,837 | $31,140 – $46,320 | 1,630 |
| Massachusetts | $36,750 | $30,091 | $33,990 – $47,630 | 5,830 |
| New Hampshire | $36,710 | $31,676 | $28,710 – $46,090 | 1,770 |
| Maryland | $36,650 | $30,251 | $31,840 – $42,930 | 6,600 |
| Oregon | $36,620 | $29,230 | $33,240 – $48,660 | 4,420 |
| New Jersey | $36,390 | $30,863 | $32,220 – $43,800 | 11,400 |
| Nevada | $36,030 | $31,130 | $29,110 – $51,000 | 1,820 |
| Minnesota | $36,000 | $29,999 | $31,760 – $44,370 | 11,090 |
| Connecticut | $35,950 | $30,373 | $34,040 – $42,850 | 5,050 |
| New Mexico | $35,740 | $30,328 | $29,750 – $45,190 | 670 |
| Arizona | $35,390 | $29,940 | $31,400 – $46,370 | 4,620 |
| Virginia | $35,090 | $29,171 | $29,040 – $42,930 | 7,420 |
| Illinois | $35,080 | $28,775 | $31,200 – $41,960 | 17,560 |
| Rhode Island | $34,860 | $29,500 | $31,320 – $42,990 | 1,020 |
| Wisconsin | $34,670 | $29,293 | $28,640 – $44,080 | 6,680 |
| Michigan | $34,260 | $28,503 | $28,730 – $38,180 | 7,700 |
| Idaho | $34,220 | $28,970 | $27,980 – $39,210 | 930 |
| Florida | $33,930 | $29,443 | $29,210 – $39,000 | 19,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $33,300 | $27,914 | $27,450 – $42,980 | 13,940 |
| Wyoming | $33,090 | $28,768 | $21,840 – $42,740 | 250 |
| Kentucky | $32,200 | $27,043 | $25,790 – $42,060 | 3,660 |
| Montana | $32,090 | $27,213 | $23,010 – $38,210 | 1,050 |
| South Dakota | $31,980 | $27,876 | $26,810 – $43,070 | 160 |
| Indiana | $31,840 | $26,854 | $26,360 – $38,350 | 3,900 |
| Missouri | $31,840 | $27,204 | $28,600 – $38,370 | 7,490 |
| South Carolina | $31,740 | $26,936 | $19,100 – $37,480 | 2,990 |
| Nebraska | $31,540 | $26,945 | $28,790 – $38,510 | 3,800 |
| Georgia | $31,530 | $26,501 | $25,850 – $39,610 | 4,970 |
| North Carolina | $31,460 | $26,712 | $23,760 – $40,110 | 8,820 |
| Delaware | $31,430 | $26,367 | $31,200 – $44,730 | 1,010 |
| Tennessee | $30,670 | $26,823 | $22,620 – $46,750 | 5,230 |
| Ohio | $30,440 | $26,584 | $26,450 – $38,310 | 15,320 |
| Utah | $30,170 | $26,030 | $23,120 – $41,600 | 2,430 |
| West Virginia | $30,170 | $25,650 | $22,480 – $38,280 | 460 |
| Iowa | $30,110 | $25,881 | $27,020 – $36,600 | 5,270 |
| Texas | $29,300 | $25,723 | $21,930 – $36,930 | 14,340 |
| Kansas | $29,040 | $24,667 | $21,770 – $35,250 | 1,270 |
| Alabama | $29,000 | $24,297 | $23,080 – $35,770 | 2,920 |
| Oklahoma | $28,490 | $24,335 | $23,030 – $37,850 | 1,760 |
| Arkansas | $27,600 | $23,475 | $23,920 – $34,430 | 3,540 |
| Mississippi | $27,250 | $23,692 | $19,940 – $34,270 | 1,860 |
| Louisiana | $27,200 | $23,579 | $18,580 – $32,540 | 2,380 |
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, Fargo, ND 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.
All 109 cities
- Akron, OH
- Albany, NY
- Allentown, PA
- Atlanta, GA
- Atlantic City, NJ
- Austin, TX
- Bakersfield, CA
- Baltimore, MD
- Birmingham, AL
- Boise City, ID
- Boston, MA
- Boulder, CO
- Bridgeport, CT
- Buffalo, NY
- Cape Coral, FL
- Cedar Rapids, IA
- Charleston, SC
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Davenport, IA
- Dayton, OH
- Denver, CO
- Des Moines, IA
- Detroit, MI
- Duluth, MN
- Durham, NC
- Eugene, OR
- Fargo, ND
- Fayetteville, AR
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Fresno, CA
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Greensboro, NC
- Greenville, SC
- Harrisburg, PA
- Hartford, CT
- Houston, TX
- Indianapolis, IN
- Jacksonville, FL
- Kansas City, MO
- Kiryas Joel, NY
- Knoxville, TN
- Lancaster, PA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Lincoln, NE
- Little Rock, AR
- Los Angeles, CA
- Louisville, KY
- Madison, WI
- Manchester, NH
- Memphis, TN
- Miami, FL
- Milwaukee, WI
- Minneapolis, MN
- Naples, FL
- Nashville, TN
- New Haven, CT
- New Orleans, LA
- New York, NY
- North Port, FL
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Omaha, NE
- Orlando, FL
- Oxnard, CA
- Peoria, IL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Portland, OR
- Providence, RI
- Raleigh, NC
- Richmond, VA
- Riverside, CA
- Rochester, MN
- Rochester, NY
- Rockford, IL
- Sacramento, CA
- Salem, OR
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Santa Maria, CA
- Santa Rosa, CA
- Scranton, PA
- Seattle, WA
- Spokane, WA
- St. Louis, MO
- Stockton, CA
- Syracuse, NY
- Tampa, FL
- Toledo, OH
- Trenton, NJ
- Tucson, AZ
- Tulsa, OK
- Urban Honolulu, HI
- Utica, NY
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Washington, DC
- Waterbury, CT
- Winston, NC
- Worcester, MA
- Youngstown, OH