Food servers, nonrestaurant salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,030 | $13.48 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Mean (average) | $36,140 | $17.37 |
| 90th percentile | $46,120 | $22.17 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Food servers, nonrestaurant pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 53 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $29,000 | $23,080 | $35,770 | 2,920 | 0.73 |
| Alaska | $38,090 | $25,140 | $46,160 | 430 | 0.7 |
| Arizona | $35,390 | $31,400 | $46,370 | 4,620 | 0.75 |
| Arkansas | $27,600 | $23,920 | $34,430 | 3,540 | 1.44 |
| California | $39,010 | $35,120 | $57,550 | 32,430 | 0.94 |
| Colorado | $38,900 | $31,860 | $51,440 | 7,750 | 1.43 |
| Connecticut | $35,950 | $34,040 | $42,850 | 5,050 | 1.58 |
| Delaware | $31,430 | $31,200 | $44,730 | 1,010 | 1.1 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 | $36,400 | $54,650 | 1,260 | 0.95 |
| Florida | $33,930 | $29,210 | $39,000 | 19,240 | 1.03 |
| Georgia | $31,530 | $25,850 | $39,610 | 4,970 | 0.54 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 | $31,250 | $68,170 | 880 | 0.74 |
| Idaho | $34,220 | $27,980 | $39,210 | 930 | 0.58 |
| Illinois | $35,080 | $31,200 | $41,960 | 17,560 | 1.52 |
| Indiana | $31,840 | $26,360 | $38,350 | 3,900 | 0.64 |
| Iowa | $30,110 | $27,020 | $36,600 | 5,270 | 1.79 |
| Kansas | $29,040 | $21,770 | $35,250 | 1,270 | 0.47 |
| Kentucky | $32,200 | $25,790 | $42,060 | 3,660 | 0.97 |
| Louisiana | $27,200 | $18,580 | $32,540 | 2,380 | 0.65 |
| Maine | $37,680 | $31,570 | $45,000 | 540 | 0.45 |
| Maryland | $36,650 | $31,840 | $42,930 | 6,600 | 1.26 |
| Massachusetts | $36,750 | $33,990 | $47,630 | 5,830 | 0.85 |
| Michigan | $34,260 | $28,730 | $38,180 | 7,700 | 0.93 |
| Minnesota | $36,000 | $31,760 | $44,370 | 11,090 | 1.99 |
| Mississippi | $27,250 | $19,940 | $34,270 | 1,860 | 0.84 |
| Missouri | $31,840 | $28,600 | $38,370 | 7,490 | 1.35 |
| Montana | $32,090 | $23,010 | $38,210 | 1,050 | 1.09 |
| Nebraska | $31,540 | $28,790 | $38,510 | 3,800 | 1.96 |
| Nevada | $36,030 | $29,110 | $51,000 | 1,820 | 0.62 |
| New Hampshire | $36,710 | $28,710 | $46,090 | 1,770 | 1.37 |
| New Jersey | $36,390 | $32,220 | $43,800 | 11,400 | 1.41 |
| New Mexico | $35,740 | $29,750 | $45,190 | 670 | 0.41 |
| New York | $39,370 | $33,110 | $52,630 | 17,520 | 0.96 |
| North Carolina | $31,460 | $23,760 | $40,110 | 8,820 | 0.94 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 | $31,140 | $46,320 | 1,630 | 2.01 |
| Ohio | $30,440 | $26,450 | $38,310 | 15,320 | 1.46 |
| Oklahoma | $28,490 | $23,030 | $37,850 | 1,760 | 0.55 |
| Oregon | $36,620 | $33,240 | $48,660 | 4,420 | 1.19 |
| Pennsylvania | $33,300 | $27,450 | $42,980 | 13,940 | 1.22 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,840 | $21,840 | $24,690 | 540 | 0.3 |
| Rhode Island | $34,860 | $31,320 | $42,990 | 1,020 | 1.08 |
| South Carolina | $31,740 | $19,100 | $37,480 | 2,990 | 0.69 |
| South Dakota | $31,980 | $26,810 | $43,070 | 160 | 0.18 |
| Tennessee | $30,670 | $22,620 | $46,750 | 5,230 | 0.84 |
| Texas | $29,300 | $21,930 | $36,930 | 14,340 | 0.54 |
| Utah | $30,170 | $23,120 | $41,600 | 2,430 | 0.74 |
| Vermont | $37,540 | $32,970 | $54,380 | 780 | 1.36 |
| Virgin Islands | $29,760 | $27,240 | $71,660 | ||
| Virginia | $35,090 | $29,040 | $42,930 | 7,420 | 0.96 |
| Washington | $38,870 | $35,050 | $50,910 | 8,050 | 1.2 |
| West Virginia | $30,170 | $22,480 | $38,280 | 460 | 0.35 |
| Wisconsin | $34,670 | $28,640 | $44,080 | 6,680 | 1.2 |
| Wyoming | $33,090 | $21,840 | $42,740 | 250 | 0.47 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for food servers, nonrestaurant
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 48,800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.2%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for food servers, nonrestaurant
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Place food servings on plates or trays according to orders or instructions.
- Clean or sterilize dishes, kitchen utensils, equipment, or facilities.
- Monitor food distribution, ensuring that meals are delivered to the correct recipients and that guidelines, such as those for special diets, are followed.
- Examine trays to ensure that they contain required items.
- Load trays with accessories, such as eating utensils, napkins, or condiments.
- Take food orders and relay orders to kitchens or serving counters so they can be filled.
- Monitor food preparation or serving techniques to ensure that proper procedures are followed.
- Remove trays and stack dishes for return to kitchen after meals are finished.
Technology skills
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- CBORD Nutrition Service Suite
- Capital Codeworks MenuMax
- Picis CareSuite
Transferable skills for career changers: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Time Management, Judgment and Decision Making, Management of Personnel Resources.
Common job titles: Food Server, Food Service Worker, Kitchen Runner, Room Server, Room Service Server, Tray Server.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do food servers, nonrestaurant make?
The national median annual wage for food servers, nonrestaurant was $35,360 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $28,030 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $46,120. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do food servers, nonrestaurant need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is food servers, nonrestaurant a growing career?
BLS projects employment of food servers, nonrestaurant to change +4.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 48,800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay food servers, nonrestaurant the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New York ($39,370), California ($39,010), Colorado ($38,900). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.