Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Washington, DC
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $37,540 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,257 take-home, or $2,605 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food servers, nonrestaurant salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,325
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,327
- Medicare (1.45%)$544
- District of Columbia income tax$1,086
- Take-home pay$31,257
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. 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 Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,590 | $16.63 | $29,064 | $2,422 |
| 25th percentile | $36,080 | $17.35 | $30,171 | $2,514 |
| Median (50th) | $37,540 | $18.05 | $31,257 | $2,605 |
| 75th percentile | $40,160 | $19.31 | $33,205 | $2,767 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,670 | $22.92 | $38,789 | $3,232 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,540 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food servers, nonrestaurant's $31,257 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,707 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 Washington, DC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.97).
Best-paying cities for food servers, nonrestaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #11 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 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $37,540 | $31,257 | $28,707 |
*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 Washington, DC?
The median food servers, nonrestaurant salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $37,540 a year, or about $18.05 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,080 and $40,160.
What is a food servers, nonrestaurant’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $37,540 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $31,257 a year ($2,605 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,086 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a food servers, nonrestaurant?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $35,360. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,707 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #11 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food servers, nonrestaurant afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 76% of a median food servers, nonrestaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- Chef and Head Cook — $74,900
- Bartender — $48,030
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $47,580
- Waiter and Waitress — $46,040
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $44,880
- Cooks, Restaurant — $42,920
- Cooks, Short Order — $39,650
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,630
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $37,260
- Dishwasher — $37,010
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $36,360
- Cooks, Fast Food — $35,800