Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in the United States
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for food servers, nonrestaurant in the United States was $35,360 ($17.00 per hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES survey.
Annual Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,030 | $13.48 |
| 25th | $31,190 | $14.99 |
| Median | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| 75th | $38,500 | $18.51 |
| 90th | $46,120 | $22.17 |
Quick Facts
- Occupational code: 35-3041
- Total U.S. employment: 293,900
- Jobs per 1,000: —
- Hourly salary breakdown
- All-state comparison
What the data says
At $17.00 per hour, a full-time schedule (2,080 hours per year) works out to roughly $35,360 — in line with the reported median annual wage of $35,360.
The median wage in this area is 0.0% below the national median — a difference of about $0 per year for a typical worker.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary by State
The table below ranks every state by median annual wage. Click a state for detailed local data.
| State | Median Annual | Median Hourly | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $29,000 | $13.94 | -18.0% | 2,920 |
| Alaska | $38,090 | $18.31 | +7.7% | 430 |
| Arizona | $35,390 | $17.01 | +0.1% | 4,620 |
| Arkansas | $27,600 | $13.27 | -21.9% | 3,540 |
| California | $39,010 | $18.75 | +10.3% | 32,430 |
| Colorado | $38,900 | $18.70 | +10.0% | 7,750 |
| Connecticut | $35,950 | $17.29 | +1.7% | 5,050 |
| Delaware | $31,430 | $15.11 | -11.1% | 1,010 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 | $18.23 | +7.2% | 1,260 |
| Florida | $33,930 | $16.31 | -4.0% | 19,240 |
| Georgia | $31,530 | $15.16 | -10.8% | 4,970 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 | $18.23 | +7.2% | 880 |
| Idaho | $34,220 | $16.45 | -3.2% | 930 |
| Illinois | $35,080 | $16.87 | -0.8% | 17,560 |
| Indiana | $31,840 | $15.31 | -10.0% | 3,900 |
| Iowa | $30,110 | $14.48 | -14.8% | 5,270 |
| Kansas | $29,040 | $13.96 | -17.9% | 1,270 |
| Kentucky | $32,200 | $15.48 | -8.9% | 3,660 |
| Louisiana | $27,200 | $13.08 | -23.1% | 2,380 |
| Maine | $37,680 | $18.11 | +6.6% | 540 |
| Maryland | $36,650 | $17.62 | +3.6% | 6,600 |
| Massachusetts | $36,750 | $17.67 | +3.9% | 5,830 |
| Michigan | $34,260 | $16.47 | -3.1% | 7,700 |
| Minnesota | $36,000 | $17.31 | +1.8% | 11,090 |
| Mississippi | $27,250 | $13.10 | -22.9% | 1,860 |
| Missouri | $31,840 | $15.31 | -10.0% | 7,490 |
| Montana | $32,090 | $15.43 | -9.2% | 1,050 |
| Nebraska | $31,540 | $15.17 | -10.8% | 3,800 |
| Nevada | $36,030 | $17.32 | +1.9% | 1,820 |
| New Hampshire | $36,710 | $17.65 | +3.8% | 1,770 |
| New Jersey | $36,390 | $17.50 | +2.9% | 11,400 |
| New Mexico | $35,740 | $17.19 | +1.1% | 670 |
| New York | $39,370 | $18.93 | +11.3% | 17,520 |
| North Carolina | $31,460 | $15.13 | -11.0% | 8,820 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 | $17.75 | +4.4% | 1,630 |
| Ohio | $30,440 | $14.63 | -13.9% | 15,320 |
| Oklahoma | $28,490 | $13.70 | -19.4% | 1,760 |
| Oregon | $36,620 | $17.61 | +3.6% | 4,420 |
| Pennsylvania | $33,300 | $16.01 | -5.8% | 13,940 |
| Rhode Island | $34,860 | $16.76 | -1.4% | 1,020 |
| South Carolina | $31,740 | $15.26 | -10.2% | 2,990 |
| South Dakota | $31,980 | $15.38 | -9.6% | 160 |
| Tennessee | $30,670 | $14.75 | -13.3% | 5,230 |
| Texas | $29,300 | $14.09 | -17.1% | 14,340 |
| Utah | $30,170 | $14.51 | -14.7% | 2,430 |
| Vermont | $37,540 | $18.05 | +6.2% | 780 |
| Virginia | $35,090 | $16.87 | -0.8% | 7,420 |
| Washington | $38,870 | $18.69 | +9.9% | 8,050 |
| West Virginia | $30,170 | $14.51 | -14.7% | 460 |
| Wisconsin | $34,670 | $16.67 | -2.0% | 6,680 |
| Wyoming | $33,090 | $15.91 | -6.4% | 250 |
Data source: BLS OES state file · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025
Related Occupations
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $63,970/yr
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $50,670/yr
- Security Guards — $38,020/yr
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $69,990/yr
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $72,080/yr
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,080/yr
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for food servers, nonrestaurant?
The median annual wage for food servers, nonrestaurant is $35,360 ($17.00 per hour), according to the BLS OES survey for May 2025.
Which state pays food servers, nonrestaurant the most?
Wages vary by state. Use the state table above to compare median annual pay across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the U.S.?
There are approximately 293,900 food servers, nonrestaurant employed nationally, per BLS OES.
How much do food servers, nonrestaurant make per hour?
The median hourly wage is $17.00. See the hourly salary page for the full percentile breakdown.