Food server earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level food server earnings begin at:

$15.26 per hour

$31,750 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level food server earnings begin at:

$9.99 per hour

$20,770 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level food server earnings begin at:

$9.00 per hour

$18,720 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level food server earnings begin at:

$8.30 per hour

$17,270 per year

10th percentile

Starting level food server earnings begin at:

$7.88 per hour

$16,380 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Food server salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Hawaii $52,110
Vermont $31,880
New York $31,534
District of Columbia $30,240
Connecticut $29,033
Oregon $28,749
California $28,387
Washington $27,720
Maine $27,550
New Jersey $27,530
Massachusetts $27,020
Alaska $26,480
Nebraska $25,610
Nevada $24,980
New Hampshire $24,850
Pennsylvania $24,175
Michigan $24,109
Florida $24,088
Rhode Island $23,980
Maryland $23,410
Missouri $23,333
Indiana $22,875
Texas $22,465
Minnesota $22,360
Illinois $21,938
North Carolina $21,718
Ohio $21,512
Iowa $21,367
Colorado $21,230
Kansas $21,198
Arizona $21,125
Montana $20,990
Louisiana $20,839
Idaho $20,780
Utah $20,590
Virgin Islands, U.S. $20,380
Delaware $20,150
West Virginia $20,080
Georgia $20,074
Virginia $20,030
South Dakota $20,010
Oklahoma $19,609
Wisconsin $19,590
Kentucky $19,450
Guam $19,120
Wyoming $19,100
Mississippi $18,760
New Mexico $18,740
North Dakota $18,720
South Carolina $18,500
Alabama $18,480
Tennessee $18,444
Puerto Rico $18,040
Arkansas $17,867

How do food server salaries compare to similar careers?

Food servers earn 9% less than similar careers in North Dakota. On average, they make less than lifeguards but more than bartenders.

Career Median Salary
Lifeguard salary $24K
Amusement attendant salary $24K
Barista salary $24K
Engraver salary $22K
Host and hostess salary $21K
Food server salary $19K
Bartender salary $20K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)