Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in San Diego, CA
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $38,260 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,905 take-home, or $2,659 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food servers, nonrestaurant salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,411
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,372
- Medicare (1.45%)$555
- California income tax$520
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$497
- Take-home pay$31,905
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 Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,240 | $16.94 | $29,638 | $2,470 |
| 25th percentile | $36,510 | $17.55 | $30,591 | $2,549 |
| Median (50th) | $38,260 | $18.39 | $31,905 | $2,659 |
| 75th percentile | $43,050 | $20.70 | $35,500 | $2,958 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,070 | $24.07 | $40,707 | $3,392 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,260 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food servers, nonrestaurant's $31,905 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,515 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 Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.17).
Best-paying cities for food servers, nonrestaurant, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #12 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 |
| 12 | San Diego, CA | $38,260 | $31,905 | $28,515 |
*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 Francisco, CA — $44,710
- Los Angeles, CA — $38,350
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food servers, nonrestaurant make in San Diego, CA?
The median food servers, nonrestaurant salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $38,260 a year, or about $18.39 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,510 and $43,050.
What is a food servers, nonrestaurant’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $38,260 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $31,905 a year ($2,659 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,017 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a food servers, nonrestaurant?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $35,360. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,515 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #12 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food servers, nonrestaurant afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 92% of a median food servers, nonrestaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $60,600
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $47,100
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,980
- Cooks, Restaurant — $46,440
- Cooks, Fast Food — $42,450
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,190
- Food Preparation Worker — $38,780
- Dishwasher — $38,530
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $36,330
- Bartender — $36,260
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $36,140
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $35,960