Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Seattle, WA
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $40,640 a year — 15% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $34,834 take-home, or $2,903 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food servers, nonrestaurant salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,697
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,520
- Medicare (1.45%)$589
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$34,834
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,820 | $18.18 | $32,568 | $2,714 |
| 25th percentile | $38,380 | $18.45 | $33,018 | $2,752 |
| Median (50th) | $40,640 | $19.54 | $34,834 | $2,903 |
| 75th percentile | $47,400 | $22.79 | $40,266 | $3,355 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,420 | $27.13 | $47,513 | $3,959 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $40,640 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food servers, nonrestaurant's $34,834 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,345 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Seattle, WA has 1.2× 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
Seattle, WA ranks #2 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 Seattle, WA?
The median food servers, nonrestaurant salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $40,640 a year, or about $19.54 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,380 and $47,400.
What is a food servers, nonrestaurant’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $40,640 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $34,834 a year ($2,903 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a food servers, nonrestaurant?
Pay here is 15% above the national median of $35,360. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,345 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #2 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food servers, nonrestaurant afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 70% of a median food servers, nonrestaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- Chef and Head Cook — $80,330
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $61,610
- Bartender — $58,180
- Waiter and Waitress — $57,280
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $51,530
- Cooks, Restaurant — $47,730
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $45,120
- Cooks, Fast Food — $44,030
- Food Preparation Worker — $43,830
- Dishwasher — $42,750
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $39,150
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $38,430