Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Boston, MA
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $37,330 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,528 take-home, or $2,544 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food servers, nonrestaurant salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,300
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,314
- Medicare (1.45%)$541
- Massachusetts income tax$1,647
- Take-home pay$30,528
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. 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 Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,970 | $16.33 | $27,996 | $2,333 |
| 25th percentile | $35,630 | $17.13 | $29,247 | $2,437 |
| Median (50th) | $37,330 | $17.95 | $30,528 | $2,544 |
| 75th percentile | $39,040 | $18.77 | $31,817 | $2,651 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,110 | $23.13 | $38,651 | $3,221 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,330 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food servers, nonrestaurant's $30,528 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,197 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 Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.85).
Best-paying cities for food servers, nonrestaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #17 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 |
| 17 | Boston, MA | $37,330 | $30,528 | $28,197 |
*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 Boston, MA?
The median food servers, nonrestaurant salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $37,330 a year, or about $17.95 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,630 and $39,040.
What is a food servers, nonrestaurant’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $37,330 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $30,528 a year ($2,544 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,647 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a food servers, nonrestaurant?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $35,360. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,197 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #17 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food servers, nonrestaurant afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 89% of a median food servers, nonrestaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Chef and Head Cook — $72,470
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $48,530
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $47,090
- Cooks, Restaurant — $45,830
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,660
- Cooks, Short Order — $39,600
- Waiter and Waitress — $39,270
- Bartender — $37,760
- Dishwasher — $37,750
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,290
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $35,140
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,780