35 Series · SOC 35-3041

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$35,360
Median / year
$46,120
Top 10% earn
+3%
Growth '23–'33
293,900
US workers

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant earn a median of $35,360 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $35,360, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $28,030 (10th percentile) to $46,120 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 293,900 US workers. New York pays the most ($39,370), since pay varies by state and metro area.

35 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant earn a median of $35,360, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 3% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Food Preparation and Serving Related, it ranks #9 of 17 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2033.

$35,360
Median annual wage
Top 97%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#9 of 17
in Food Preparation and Serving Related
1.6×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: New York at $39,370. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant (SOC 35-3041) pays a national median of $35,360 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $28,030 at the 10th percentile to $46,120 at the 90th, with a mean of $36,140 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 293,900 Americans work in this occupation across 53 reporting states and 483 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +3% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 48,000 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is No formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.6 per 100,000 and injury rate of 2.4 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. New York pays the highest state median at $39,370, which is +11% above the national figure. The top metro is Kahului-Wailuku, HI at $62,960 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.

BLS OEWS May 2025 293,900 jobs Median $35,360/yr

Median Salary

$35,360

per year

Median Hourly

$17.00/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$36,140

average

Employment

293,900

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$35,360 Bottom 3% higher than 3% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). This entry sits in this band. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Above this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 35-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Food Servers, Nonrestaurant; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 17 35-series occupations with growth data, Food Servers, Nonrestaurant sits on the slower-growing side at +3% growth and $35,360 median pay.

Among 17 35-series occupations with growth data, Food Servers, Nonrestaurant sits on the slower-growing side at +3% growth and $35,360 median pay. Scatter plot of 17 data points. $20000$30000$40000$50000$60000$70000 -20%-10%0%10%20% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 17 35-series occupations with growth data, Food Servers, Nonrestaurant sits on the slower-growing side at +3% growth and $35,360 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+3%

Slower than average

Annual Openings

48,000

per year (projected)

Typical Education

No formal educational credential

On-the-Job Training

Short-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
A

Very Safe

Safety Grade (BLS 2023)

Fatality Rate

0.6/100K

Injury Rate

2.4/100

Danger Index

9.9/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Active Listening 3.0
Speaking 3.0
Service Orientation 3.0
Reading Comprehension 2.9
Critical Thinking 2.9
Social Perceptiveness 2.9
Coordination 2.9
Time Management 2.9
Monitoring 2.8
Judgment and Decision Making 2.8

Knowledge Areas

Customer and Personal Service 3.6
English Language 3.6
Food Production 3.0
Administration and Management 3.0
Education and Training 2.9
Public Safety and Security 2.9
Mathematics 2.8
Psychology 2.5
Law and Government 2.4
Computers and Electronics 2.3

Key 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.
  • Total checks, present them to customers, and accept payment for services.
  • 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.
  • Carry food, silverware, or linen on trays or use carts to carry trays.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$28,030$31,190$35,360$38,500$46,120
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$13.48$14.99$17.00$18.51$22.17
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$28,030

25th Percentile

$31,190

Median

$35,360

75th Percentile

$38,500

90th Percentile

$46,120

Salary by State

View all 53 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 New York $39,370 +11% above national
2 California $39,010 +10% above national
3 Colorado $38,900 +10% above national
4 Washington $38,870 +10% above national
5 Alaska $38,090 +8% above national
6 District of Columbia $37,920 +7% above national
7 Hawaii $37,920 +7% above national
8 Maine $37,680 +7% above national
9 Vermont $37,540 +6% above national
10 North Dakota $36,910 +4% above national
11 Massachusetts $36,750 +4% above national
12 New Hampshire $36,710 +4% above national
13 Maryland $36,650 +4% above national
14 Oregon $36,620 +4% above national
15 New Jersey $36,390 +3% above national
16 Nevada $36,030 +2% above national
17 Minnesota $36,000 +2% above national
18 Connecticut $35,950 +2% above national
19 New Mexico $35,740 +1% above national
20 Arizona $35,390 same as national
21 Virginia $35,090 1% below national
22 Illinois $35,080 1% below national
23 Rhode Island $34,860 1% below national
24 Wisconsin $34,670 2% below national
25 Michigan $34,260 3% below national
26 Idaho $34,220 3% below national
27 Florida $33,930 4% below national
28 Pennsylvania $33,300 6% below national
29 Wyoming $33,090 6% below national
30 Kentucky $32,200 9% below national
31 Montana $32,090 9% below national
32 South Dakota $31,980 10% below national
33 Indiana $31,840 10% below national
34 Missouri $31,840 10% below national
35 South Carolina $31,740 10% below national
36 Nebraska $31,540 11% below national
37 Georgia $31,530 11% below national
38 North Carolina $31,460 11% below national
39 Delaware $31,430 11% below national
40 Tennessee $30,670 13% below national
41 Ohio $30,440 14% below national
42 Utah $30,170 15% below national
43 West Virginia $30,170 15% below national
44 Iowa $30,110 15% below national
45 Virgin Islands $29,760 16% below national
46 Texas $29,300 17% below national
47 Kansas $29,040 18% below national
48 Alabama $29,000 18% below national
49 Oklahoma $28,490 19% below national
50 Arkansas $27,600 22% below national
51 Mississippi $27,250 23% below national
52 Louisiana $27,200 23% below national
53 Puerto Rico $21,840 38% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 483 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Kahului-Wailuku, HI $62,960 +78% above national
2 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,210 +31% above national
3 Hanford-Corcoran, CA $45,030 +27% above national
4 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $44,710 +26% above national
5 Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area $44,040 +25% above national
6 Napa, CA $41,850 +18% above national
7 Burlington-South Burlington, VT $41,090 +16% above national
8 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $40,640 +15% above national
9 Ithaca, NY $40,240 +14% above national
10 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $40,180 +14% above national
11 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $39,850 +13% above national
12 Lawton, OK $39,720 +12% above national
13 Anchorage, AK $39,550 +12% above national
14 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $39,120 +11% above national
15 Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $39,110 +11% above national
16 Goldsboro, NC $38,980 +10% above national
17 Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area $38,950 +10% above national
18 Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area $38,950 +10% above national
19 Boulder, CO $38,930 +10% above national
20 Vallejo, CA $38,910 +10% above national
21 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $38,740 +10% above national
22 Salinas, CA $38,660 +9% above national
23 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $38,460 +9% above national
24 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $38,350 +8% above national
25 Vineland, NJ $38,350 +8% above national
26 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $38,260 +8% above national
27 North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area $38,220 +8% above national
28 Bozeman, MT $38,210 +8% above national
29 Flagstaff, AZ $38,200 +8% above national
30 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $38,150 +8% above national
31 Lewiston-Auburn, ME $38,140 +8% above national
32 North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $38,100 +8% above national
33 Alaska nonmetropolitan area $38,090 +8% above national
34 Modesto, CA $38,010 +7% above national
35 Kennewick-Richland, WA $37,860 +7% above national
36 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $37,860 +7% above national
37 Bend, OR $37,790 +7% above national
38 Yuba City, CA $37,660 +7% above national
39 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $37,540 +6% above national
40 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $37,540 +6% above national
41 Great Falls, MT $37,530 +6% above national
42 Western Washington nonmetropolitan area $37,510 +6% above national
43 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $37,480 +6% above national
44 Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $37,480 +6% above national
45 Chico, CA $37,400 +6% above national
46 Stockton-Lodi, CA $37,380 +6% above national
47 West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area $37,380 +6% above national
48 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $37,330 +6% above national
49 Grand Forks, ND-MN $37,280 +5% above national
50 Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $37,260 +5% above national
51 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $37,230 +5% above national
52 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $37,230 +5% above national
53 Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $37,220 +5% above national
54 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $37,210 +5% above national
55 Portland-South Portland, ME $37,200 +5% above national
56 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $37,140 +5% above national
57 Longview-Kelso, WA $37,140 +5% above national
58 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $37,120 +5% above national
59 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $37,080 +5% above national
60 Barnstable Town, MA $37,070 +5% above national
61 Saginaw, MI $37,030 +5% above national
62 Bismarck, ND $37,010 +5% above national
63 Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area $36,970 +5% above national
64 Grand Junction, CO $36,900 +4% above national
65 Manchester-Nashua, NH $36,890 +4% above national
66 Pueblo, CO $36,860 +4% above national
67 Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area $36,830 +4% above national
68 Fresno, CA $36,770 +4% above national
69 Syracuse, NY $36,770 +4% above national
70 Fargo, ND-MN $36,720 +4% above national
71 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $36,720 +4% above national
72 Battle Creek, MI $36,710 +4% above national
73 Colorado Springs, CO $36,690 +4% above national
74 Lexington Park, MD $36,650 +4% above national
75 Urban Honolulu, HI $36,650 +4% above national
76 Greeley, CO $36,570 +3% above national
77 Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $36,520 +3% above national
78 East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area $36,460 +3% above national
79 Bellingham, WA $36,450 +3% above national
80 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $36,420 +3% above national
81 Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI $36,250 +3% above national
82 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $36,190 +2% above national
83 Walla Walla, WA $36,170 +2% above national
84 Williamsport, PA $36,170 +2% above national
85 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $36,160 +2% above national
86 Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area $36,160 +2% above national
87 Madison, WI $36,110 +2% above national
88 Yakima, WA $36,070 +2% above national
89 Binghamton, NY $36,060 +2% above national
90 Glens Falls, NY $36,030 +2% above national
91 New Haven, CT $35,940 +2% above national
92 Duluth, MN-WI $35,880 +1% above national
93 Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $35,850 +1% above national
94 Sheboygan, WI $35,850 +1% above national
95 Worcester, MA $35,790 +1% above national
96 Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $35,790 +1% above national
97 Rochester, NY $35,780 +1% above national
98 Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $35,760 +1% above national
99 Redding, CA $35,740 +1% above national
100 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $35,740 +1% above national
101 Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area $35,730 +1% above national
102 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $35,710 +1% above national
103 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $35,690 +1% above national
104 Visalia, CA $35,680 +1% above national
105 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $35,670 +1% above national
106 Rochester, MN $35,630 +1% above national
107 El Centro, CA $35,590 +1% above national
108 Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA $35,580 +1% above national
109 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $35,550 +1% above national
110 Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $35,540 +1% above national
111 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $35,520 same as national
112 Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area $35,460 same as national
113 Naples-Marco Island, FL $35,310 same as national
114 Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area $35,290 same as national
115 Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area $35,270 same as national
116 Fort Wayne, IN $35,190 same as national
117 Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $35,190 same as national
118 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $35,170 1% below national
119 Albuquerque, NM $35,160 1% below national
120 Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area $35,160 1% below national
121 Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area $35,130 1% below national
122 Traverse City, MI $35,070 1% below national
123 Central East New York nonmetropolitan area $35,060 1% below national
124 Asheville, NC $35,040 1% below national
125 Pittsfield, MA $35,020 1% below national
126 Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $35,010 1% below national
127 Winchester, VA-WV $35,000 1% below national
128 Kingston, NY $34,980 1% below national
129 Springfield, MA $34,970 1% below national
130 Richmond, VA $34,960 1% below national
131 Connecticut nonmetropolitan area $34,960 1% below national
132 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $34,950 1% below national
133 Mansfield, OH $34,940 1% below national
134 Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA $34,940 1% below national
135 Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area $34,920 1% below national
136 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $34,900 1% below national
137 Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area $34,890 1% below national
138 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI $34,880 1% below national
139 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $34,870 1% below national
140 Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area $34,860 1% below national
141 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN $34,850 1% below national
142 Amherst Town-Northampton, MA $34,830 1% below national
143 Wilmington, NC $34,810 2% below national
144 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $34,800 2% below national
145 Springfield, IL $34,800 2% below national
146 Waterbury-Shelton, CT $34,780 2% below national
147 Mankato, MN $34,760 2% below national
148 Grants Pass, OR $34,730 2% below national
149 Green Bay, WI $34,730 2% below national
150 Salem, OR $34,720 2% below national
151 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $34,710 2% below national
152 Lansing-East Lansing, MI $34,700 2% below national
153 Reno, NV $34,690 2% below national
154 Elkhart-Goshen, IN $34,630 2% below national
155 Pittsburgh, PA $34,630 2% below national
156 Winston-Salem, NC $34,620 2% below national
157 Champaign-Urbana, IL $34,580 2% below national
158 Bangor, ME $34,560 2% below national
159 Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI $34,530 2% below national
160 Boise City, ID $34,510 2% below national
161 St. Cloud, MN $34,510 2% below national
162 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $34,500 2% below national
163 Medford, OR $34,490 2% below national
164 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC $34,480 2% below national
165 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $34,480 2% below national
166 Eugene-Springfield, OR $34,450 3% below national
167 Maryland nonmetropolitan area $34,440 3% below national
168 Utica-Rome, NY $34,430 3% below national
169 Jacksonville, FL $34,410 3% below national
170 Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $34,400 3% below national
171 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $34,370 3% below national
172 St. Louis, MO-IL $34,340 3% below national
173 Gainesville, FL $34,310 3% below national
174 Kenosha, WI $34,300 3% below national
175 Appleton, WI $34,280 3% below national
176 Salisbury, MD $34,260 3% below national
177 Charlottesville, VA $34,250 3% below national
178 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $34,190 3% below national
179 Ann Arbor, MI $34,170 3% below national
180 Midland, TX $34,160 3% below national
181 Yuma, AZ $34,120 4% below national
182 Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $34,100 4% below national
183 Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL $34,060 4% below national
184 Bowling Green, KY $34,040 4% below national
185 Lynchburg, VA $34,010 4% below national
186 Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ $34,010 4% below national
187 Janesville-Beloit, WI $34,000 4% below national
188 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $33,970 4% below national
189 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $33,970 4% below national
190 Port St. Lucie, FL $33,970 4% below national
191 Cheyenne, WY $33,960 4% below national
192 Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area $33,900 4% below national
193 Oshkosh-Neenah, WI $33,860 4% below national
194 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $33,830 4% below national
195 Albany, OR $33,790 4% below national
196 Chambersburg, PA $33,790 4% below national
197 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $33,790 4% below national
198 Coeur d'Alene, ID $33,750 5% below national
199 Wausau, WI $33,750 5% below national
200 Decatur, IL $33,710 5% below national
201 Peoria, IL $33,700 5% below national
202 Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ $33,690 5% below national
203 Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $33,690 5% below national
204 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $33,670 5% below national
205 Fond du Lac, WI $33,640 5% below national
206 South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $33,640 5% below national
207 Kansas City, MO-KS $33,620 5% below national
208 Minot, ND $33,600 5% below national
209 Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $33,590 5% below national
210 Eau Claire, WI $33,570 5% below national
211 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $33,560 5% below national
212 Corvallis, OR $33,560 5% below national
213 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $33,550 5% below national
214 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $33,550 5% below national
215 Bloomington, IL $33,540 5% below national
216 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV $33,540 5% below national
217 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $33,540 5% below national
218 State College, PA $33,540 5% below national
219 York-Hanover, PA $33,500 5% below national
220 Terre Haute, IN $33,400 6% below national
221 Spartanburg, SC $33,390 6% below national
222 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $33,380 6% below national
223 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $33,300 6% below national
224 Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area $33,210 6% below national
225 Gainesville, GA $33,180 6% below national
226 Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $33,170 6% below national
227 Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $33,160 6% below national
228 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $33,150 6% below national
229 Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area $33,090 6% below national
230 Lebanon, PA $33,040 7% below national
231 Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area $32,900 7% below national
232 Kokomo, IN $32,860 7% below national
233 Grand Island, NE $32,820 7% below national
234 Columbia, MO $32,800 7% below national
235 Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area $32,780 7% below national
236 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $32,770 7% below national
237 Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area $32,740 7% below national
238 Sandusky, OH $32,710 7% below national
239 Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area $32,660 8% below national
240 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $32,610 8% below national
241 Raleigh-Cary, NC $32,470 8% below national
242 Kankakee, IL $32,430 8% below national
243 Bay City, MI $32,370 8% below national
244 Columbus, IN $32,340 9% below national
245 Erie, PA $32,300 9% below national
246 Dubuque, IA $32,270 9% below national
247 Columbus, OH $32,250 9% below national
248 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $32,170 9% below national
249 Omaha, NE-IA $32,150 9% below national
250 North Florida nonmetropolitan area $32,150 9% below national
251 Arizona nonmetropolitan area $32,120 9% below national
252 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $32,070 9% below national
253 Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area $32,030 9% below national
254 Roanoke, VA $32,010 9% below national
255 Tucson, AZ $32,010 9% below national
256 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $31,960 10% below national
257 Ames, IA $31,840 10% below national
258 Niles, MI $31,840 10% below national
259 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL $31,840 10% below national
260 St. George, UT $31,840 10% below national
261 Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area $31,840 10% below national
262 Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area $31,840 10% below national
263 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $31,780 10% below national
264 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $31,730 10% below national
265 Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area $31,730 10% below national
266 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL $31,710 10% below national
267 Harrisonburg, VA $31,710 10% below national
268 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $31,710 10% below national
269 Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area $31,710 10% below national
270 Athens-Clarke County, GA $31,680 10% below national
271 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $31,670 10% below national
272 Rockford, IL $31,670 10% below national
273 Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area $31,640 11% below national
274 South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $31,620 11% below national
275 Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area $31,610 11% below national
276 Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $31,600 11% below national
277 East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area $31,540 11% below national
278 Jacksonville, NC $31,460 11% below national
279 South Illinois nonmetropolitan area $31,430 11% below national
280 Columbia, SC $31,400 11% below national
281 South Florida nonmetropolitan area $31,380 11% below national
282 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $31,370 11% below national
283 Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA $31,330 11% below national
284 Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area $31,330 11% below national
285 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $31,290 12% below national
286 Ocala, FL $31,280 12% below national
287 South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area $31,260 12% below national
288 Idaho Falls, ID $31,250 12% below national
289 Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area $31,240 12% below national
290 West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area $31,230 12% below national
291 Akron, OH $31,210 12% below national
292 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $31,200 12% below national
293 Dover, DE $31,200 12% below national
294 Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area $31,200 12% below national
295 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $31,160 12% below national
296 Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area $31,150 12% below national
297 Springfield, MO $31,130 12% below national
298 Brunswick-St. Simons, GA $31,120 12% below national
299 Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $31,110 12% below national
300 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $31,080 12% below national
301 Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area $30,960 12% below national
302 Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area $30,830 13% below national
303 Reading, PA $30,810 13% below national
304 Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC $30,790 13% below national
305 Chattanooga, TN-GA $30,740 13% below national
306 West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area $30,680 13% below national
307 Lancaster, PA $30,660 13% below national
308 Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL $30,650 13% below national
309 Cleveland, TN $30,640 13% below national
310 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $30,600 13% below national
311 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $30,590 13% below national
312 Macon-Bibb County, GA $30,570 14% below national
313 Billings, MT $30,550 14% below national
314 Muncie, IN $30,510 14% below national
315 Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area $30,480 14% below national
316 Lexington-Fayette, KY $30,430 14% below national
317 Tulsa, OK $30,430 14% below national
318 Birmingham, AL $30,370 14% below national
319 Joplin, MO-KS $30,370 14% below national
320 Evansville, IN $30,360 14% below national
321 Cleveland, OH $30,350 14% below national
322 Charleston, WV $30,330 14% below national
323 West Montana nonmetropolitan area $30,330 14% below national
324 Jefferson City, MO $30,210 15% below national
325 St. Joseph, MO-KS $30,210 15% below national
326 Huntsville, AL $30,180 15% below national
327 Missoula, MT $30,120 15% below national
328 North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area $30,110 15% below national
329 Savannah, GA $30,100 15% below national
330 Cape Girardeau, MO-IL $30,090 15% below national
331 Jackson, MI $30,090 15% below national
332 Lima, OH $30,080 15% below national
333 Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area $30,080 15% below national
334 Toledo, OH $30,060 15% below national
335 Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area $30,020 15% below national
336 Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area $30,000 15% below national
337 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN $29,990 15% below national
338 Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $29,990 15% below national
339 Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area $29,980 15% below national
340 Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area $29,970 15% below national
341 Cedar Rapids, IA $29,940 15% below national
342 Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area $29,940 15% below national
343 High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area $29,810 16% below national
344 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI $29,800 16% below national
345 Tallahassee, FL $29,770 16% below national
346 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL $29,750 16% below national
347 Fayetteville, NC $29,730 16% below national
348 Flint, MI $29,710 16% below national
349 El Paso, TX $29,680 16% below national
350 Lubbock, TX $29,660 16% below national
351 Tuscaloosa, AL $29,640 16% below national
352 Owensboro, KY $29,600 16% below national
353 Mobile, AL $29,560 16% below national
354 Casper, WY $29,550 16% below national
355 Warner Robins, GA $29,530 16% below national
356 Homosassa Springs, FL $29,500 17% below national
357 North Georgia nonmetropolitan area $29,490 17% below national
358 West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area $29,490 17% below national
359 Lincoln, NE $29,480 17% below national
360 Florence, SC $29,470 17% below national
361 Sebring, FL $29,470 17% below national
362 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $29,460 17% below national
363 Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area $29,420 17% below national
364 Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area $29,410 17% below national
365 Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area $29,410 17% below national
366 Rome, GA $29,400 17% below national
367 Farmington, NM $29,380 17% below national
368 Ogden, UT $29,360 17% below national
369 Springfield, OH $29,360 17% below national
370 Iowa City, IA $29,350 17% below national
371 Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $29,320 17% below national
372 Albany, GA $29,280 17% below national
373 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC $29,280 17% below national
374 Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area $29,280 17% below national
375 Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area $29,260 17% below national
376 Oklahoma City, OK $29,230 17% below national
377 Decatur, AL $29,220 17% below national
378 Waco, TX $29,220 17% below national
379 West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $29,220 17% below national
380 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $29,210 17% below national
381 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $29,200 17% below national
382 East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area $29,190 17% below national
383 East Georgia nonmetropolitan area $29,120 18% below national
384 Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area $29,110 18% below national
385 Knoxville, TN $29,100 18% below national
386 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $29,050 18% below national
387 Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area $29,050 18% below national
388 Greensboro-High Point, NC $29,030 18% below national
389 Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area $29,030 18% below national
390 Amarillo, TX $29,020 18% below national
391 North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) $28,980 18% below national
392 Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH $28,960 18% below national
393 South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area $28,950 18% below national
394 Jackson, MS $28,940 18% below national
395 Tyler, TX $28,920 18% below national
396 North Missouri nonmetropolitan area $28,920 18% below national
397 Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area $28,900 18% below national
398 South Georgia nonmetropolitan area $28,900 18% below national
399 Montgomery, AL $28,860 18% below national
400 Canton-Massillon, OH $28,790 19% below national
401 Johnstown, PA $28,760 19% below national
402 Rocky Mount, NC $28,760 19% below national
403 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $28,750 19% below national
404 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $28,740 19% below national
405 Burlington, NC $28,670 19% below national
406 East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area $28,590 19% below national
407 Gettysburg, PA $28,520 19% below national
408 Killeen-Temple, TX $28,520 19% below national
409 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $28,510 19% below national
410 Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area $28,450 20% below national
411 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $28,430 20% below national
412 East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $28,370 20% below national
413 Columbus, GA-AL $28,360 20% below national
414 Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area $28,360 20% below national
415 Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $28,230 20% below national
416 North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area $28,230 20% below national
417 Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area $28,200 20% below national
418 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA $28,140 20% below national
419 Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area $28,020 21% below national
420 Jackson, TN $27,950 21% below national
421 Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL $27,910 21% below national
422 Youngstown-Warren, OH $27,890 21% below national
423 Altoona, PA $27,860 21% below national
424 Lafayette, LA $27,860 21% below national
425 Valdosta, GA $27,810 21% below national
426 Sherman-Denison, TX $27,770 21% below national
427 Jonesboro, AR $27,740 22% below national
428 Odessa, TX $27,730 22% below national
429 Hot Springs, AR $27,600 22% below national
430 Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area $27,590 22% below national
431 Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area $27,590 22% below national
432 Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area $27,590 22% below national
433 Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA $27,580 22% below national
434 Dalton, GA $27,570 22% below national
435 Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $27,530 22% below national
436 Clarksville, TN-KY $27,510 22% below national
437 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $27,490 22% below national
438 Greenville, NC $27,370 23% below national
439 Abilene, TX $27,340 23% below national
440 Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $27,340 23% below national
441 Baton Rouge, LA $27,330 23% below national
442 South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $27,260 23% below national
443 West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $27,230 23% below national
444 Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area $27,190 23% below national
445 Wichita Falls, TX $27,080 23% below national
446 Johnson City, TN $27,050 24% below national
447 Fort Smith, AR-OK $27,040 24% below national
448 North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $26,930 24% below national
449 Wheeling, WV-OH $26,890 24% below national
450 Longview, TX $26,790 24% below national
451 Anniston-Oxford, AL $26,780 24% below national
452 Topeka, KS $26,670 25% below national
453 Logan, UT-ID $26,650 25% below national
454 Lawrence, KS $26,550 25% below national
455 Hammond, LA $26,450 25% below national
456 Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area $26,440 25% below national
457 Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $26,360 25% below national
458 East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $26,250 26% below national
459 Dothan, AL $26,000 26% below national
460 Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $26,000 26% below national
461 Hattiesburg, MS $25,970 27% below national
462 Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area $25,720 27% below national
463 Monroe, LA $25,690 27% below national
464 Lake Charles, LA $25,590 28% below national
465 Corpus Christi, TX $25,470 28% below national
466 Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA $25,070 29% below national
467 Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area $24,960 29% below national
468 Texarkana, TX-AR $24,770 30% below national
469 Kansas nonmetropolitan area $24,460 31% below national
470 Wichita, KS $24,190 32% below national
471 Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area $24,140 32% below national
472 College Station-Bryan, TX $24,120 32% below national
473 Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area $24,100 32% below national
474 Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area $24,080 32% below national
475 Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area $23,950 32% below national
476 Shreveport-Bossier City, LA $23,920 32% below national
477 Ponce, PR $23,770 33% below national
478 Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area $23,580 33% below national
479 West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $23,380 34% below national
480 Alexandria, LA $22,410 37% below national
481 Mayaguez, PR $21,840 38% below national
482 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $21,840 38% below national
483 Manhattan, KS $21,660 39% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 35 (food preparation and serving) with comparable pay and career paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Food Servers, Nonrestaurant make?
The median annual salary for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant is $35,360 ($17.00/hour). The salary range spans from $28,030 at the 10th percentile to $46,120 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Food Servers, Nonrestaurant the most?
New York pays the highest median salary for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant at $39,370/year, which is +11% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Food Servers, Nonrestaurant?
The typical entry-level education for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant is No formal educational credential. On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Food Servers, Nonrestaurant?
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.6 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 2.4 per 100 workers.
Is Food Servers, Nonrestaurant a good career?
Employment for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant is projected to grow 3% from 2024 to 2034, which is slower than average. About 48,000 openings are projected each year.
How does Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay vary by state?
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is New York at $39,370/year, while Oklahoma pays the least at $28,490/year. BLS data covers 53 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant?
The highest-paying metro area for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant is Kahului-Wailuku, HI at $62,960/year. BLS reports wage data for 483 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $38,500/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: New York leads at $39,370/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.