How much does a food server make?
The median food server in the United States earns $35,360 per year, about $17.00 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all food servers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 35-3041.
Food server salary range
Pay for food servers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $28,030 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $46,120. The average (mean) wage of $36,140 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,030 | $13.48 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $31,190 | $14.99 | |
| Median (50th) | $35,360 | $17.00 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $38,500 | $18.51 | |
| 90th percentile | $46,120 | $22.17 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for food servers, nonrestaurant (SOC 35-3041), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Food server salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Food servers earn the most in New York at $39,370 a year, and the least in Louisiana at $27,200. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 | 17,520 |
| California | $39,010 | 32,430 |
| Colorado | $38,900 | 7,750 |
| Washington | $38,870 | 8,050 |
| Alaska | $38,090 | 430 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 | 1,260 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 | 880 |
| Maine | $37,680 | 540 |
| Vermont | $37,540 | 780 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 | 1,630 |
| Massachusetts | $36,750 | 5,830 |
| New Hampshire | $36,710 | 1,770 |
| Maryland | $36,650 | 6,600 |
| Oregon | $36,620 | 4,420 |
| New Jersey | $36,390 | 11,400 |
| Nevada | $36,030 | 1,820 |
| Minnesota | $36,000 | 11,090 |
| Connecticut | $35,950 | 5,050 |
| New Mexico | $35,740 | 670 |
| Arizona | $35,390 | 4,620 |
| Virginia | $35,090 | 7,420 |
| Illinois | $35,080 | 17,560 |
| Rhode Island | $34,860 | 1,020 |
| Wisconsin | $34,670 | 6,680 |
| Michigan | $34,260 | 7,700 |
| Idaho | $34,220 | 930 |
| Florida | $33,930 | 19,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $33,300 | 13,940 |
| Wyoming | $33,090 | 250 |
| Kentucky | $32,200 | 3,660 |
| Montana | $32,090 | 1,050 |
| South Dakota | $31,980 | 160 |
| Indiana | $31,840 | 3,900 |
| Missouri | $31,840 | 7,490 |
| South Carolina | $31,740 | 2,990 |
| Nebraska | $31,540 | 3,800 |
| Georgia | $31,530 | 4,970 |
| North Carolina | $31,460 | 8,820 |
| Delaware | $31,430 | 1,010 |
| Tennessee | $30,670 | 5,230 |
| Ohio | $30,440 | 15,320 |
| Utah | $30,170 | 2,430 |
| West Virginia | $30,170 | 460 |
| Iowa | $30,110 | 5,270 |
| Texas | $29,300 | 14,340 |
| Kansas | $29,040 | 1,270 |
| Alabama | $29,000 | 2,920 |
| Oklahoma | $28,490 | 1,760 |
| Arkansas | $27,600 | 3,540 |
| Mississippi | $27,250 | 1,860 |
| Louisiana | $27,200 | 2,380 |
State median wages for food servers, nonrestaurant (SOC 35-3041), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for food servers
The BLS projects employment of food servers to grow 4.5% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 296,300 jobs in 2025 moving toward 309,600 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 48,800 openings a year for food servers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a food server
The typical entry-level education for food servers is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a food server earns
Employer, region, seniority, and in many cases tips shape take-home pay. Fine dining, large venues, and high cost cities lift the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (New York, $39,370) and the lowest (Louisiana, $27,200) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 293,900 people work as food servers in the United States. At $35,360 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Food server salary FAQ
How much does a food server make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a food server is $17.00. The middle half of food servers earn between $14.99 and $18.51 per hour.
What is the highest food server salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of food servers earn more than $46,120 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a food server make a year?
The median annual salary for a food server is $35,360. The average (mean) wage of $36,140 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a food server a well paid job?
At $35,360 a year, a food server earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 293,900 people work as food servers in the United States.
Which state pays food servers the most?
New York has the highest median salary for food servers at $39,370 a year. California ($39,010) and Colorado ($38,900) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a food server a good career?
Employment of food servers is projected to grow 4.5% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 48,800 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a food server?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for food servers as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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