Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Denver, CO
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $39,850 a year — 13% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $33,154 take-home, or $2,763 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food servers, nonrestaurant salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,602
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,471
- Medicare (1.45%)$578
- Colorado income tax$1,045
- Take-home pay$33,154
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,910 | $15.34 | $27,124 | $2,260 |
| 25th percentile | $37,340 | $17.95 | $31,248 | $2,604 |
| Median (50th) | $39,850 | $19.16 | $33,154 | $2,763 |
| 75th percentile | $46,600 | $22.40 | $38,281 | $3,190 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,440 | $24.73 | $41,957 | $3,496 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,850 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food servers, nonrestaurant's $33,154 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,342 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Denver, CO has 1.5× the national concentration of food servers, nonrestaurant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for food servers, nonrestaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #3 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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food servers, nonrestaurant make in Denver, CO?
The median food servers, nonrestaurant salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $39,850 a year, or about $19.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,340 and $46,600.
What is a food servers, nonrestaurant’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $39,850 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $33,154 a year ($2,763 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,045 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a food servers, nonrestaurant?
Pay here is 13% above the national median of $35,360. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,342 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #3 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food servers, nonrestaurant afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 63% of a median food servers, nonrestaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $52,520
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $45,070
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,370
- Waiter and Waitress — $39,650
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,470
- Dishwasher — $38,710
- Cooks, Fast Food — $38,530
- Bartender — $37,180
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $37,070
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $36,880
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $36,340