Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Tampa, FL
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area earn a median $34,480 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,885 take-home, or $2,490 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food servers, nonrestaurant salary in Tampa, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,958
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,138
- Medicare (1.45%)$500
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$29,885
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 Tampa, FL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,100 | $13.99 | $25,562 | $2,130 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 | $27,249 | $2,271 |
| Median (50th) | $34,480 | $16.58 | $29,885 | $2,490 |
| 75th percentile | $35,910 | $17.26 | $31,034 | $2,586 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,570 | $18.06 | $32,367 | $2,697 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,480 buys in Tampa, FL
Prices in Tampa, FL are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.26× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food servers, nonrestaurant's $29,885 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,621 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 Tampa, FL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for food servers, nonrestaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Tampa, FL ranks #5 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.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salaries elsewhere in Florida
- Orlando, FL — $32,170
- Miami, FL — $34,950
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food servers, nonrestaurant make in Tampa, FL?
The median food servers, nonrestaurant salary in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area is $34,480 a year, or about $16.58 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,200 and $35,910.
What is a food servers, nonrestaurant’s take-home pay in Tampa, FL?
On the median $34,480 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $29,885 a year ($2,490 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Tampa, FL a good place to work as a food servers, nonrestaurant?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $35,360. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,621 would in a typical U.S. city. Tampa, FL ranks #5 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food servers, nonrestaurant afford rent in Tampa, FL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tampa, FL is $1,696 a month ($1,977 for two bedrooms) — 68% of a median food servers, nonrestaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Tampa, FL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,240
- Bartender — $37,460
- Waiter and Waitress — $37,070
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,010
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,330
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,040
- Dishwasher — $31,670
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $31,150
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,880
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,260