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Food server (nonrestaurant): pay, job outlook and how to get started

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$35,360median pay per year, or $17.00 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $28,030lowest 10% earn less
  2. $31,19025th percentile
  3. $35,360median
  4. $38,50075th percentile
  5. $46,120top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Nonrestaurant food servers had a median pay of $35,360 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 4.5% from 2025 to 2035, a little faster than the 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+4.5%[2]
Openings per year
48,800[6]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[7]

How much do food servers make?

The median pay for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant was $35,360 a year, or $17.00 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $36,140 a year, or $17.37 an hour[8]. For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980[5].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $28,030 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $46,120[4]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9]. In hourly terms, the 10th percentile was $13.48 and the 90th percentile was $22.17[10].

Measure Annual Hourly
10th percentile[4][10] $28,030 $13.48
25th percentile[4][10] $31,190 $14.99
Median[1] $35,360 $17.00
75th percentile[4][10] $38,500 $18.51
90th percentile[4][10] $46,120 $22.17

These figures cover wage and salary workers, both part-time and full-time. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[11]. About 293,900 people held these jobs[12].

Pay by state and city

New York had the highest state median at $39,370, followed by California at $39,010 and Colorado at $38,900[13]. Louisiana had the lowest published state median at $27,200[13].

California had the most jobs at 32,430, followed by Florida (19,240), Illinois (17,560), New York (17,520) and Ohio (15,320)[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Kahului-Wailuku, HI had the highest median at $62,960[15]. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA was next at $46,210, then San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $44,710[15]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs at 19,450, with a median of $39,120[16].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
New York[13]$39,37017,520
California$39,01032,430
Colorado$38,9007,750
Washington$38,8708,050
Alaska$38,090430
District of Columbia$37,9201,260
Hawaii$37,920880
Maine$37,680540
Vermont$37,540780
North Dakota$36,9101,630
Massachusetts$36,7505,830
New Hampshire$36,7101,770
Maryland$36,6506,600
Oregon$36,6204,420
New Jersey$36,39011,400
Nevada$36,0301,820
Minnesota$36,00011,090
Connecticut$35,9505,050
New Mexico$35,740670
Arizona$35,3904,620
Virginia$35,0907,420
Illinois$35,08017,560
Rhode Island$34,8601,020
Wisconsin$34,6706,680
Michigan$34,2607,700
Idaho$34,220930
Florida$33,93019,240
Pennsylvania$33,30013,940
Wyoming$33,090250
Kentucky$32,2003,660
Montana$32,0901,050
South Dakota$31,980160
Indiana$31,8403,900
Missouri$31,8407,490
South Carolina$31,7402,990
Nebraska$31,5403,800
Georgia$31,5304,970
North Carolina$31,4608,820
Delaware$31,4301,010
Tennessee$30,6705,230
Ohio$30,44015,320
Utah$30,1702,430
West Virginia$30,170460
Iowa$30,1105,270
Texas$29,30014,340
Kansas$29,0401,270
Alabama$29,0002,920
Oklahoma$28,4901,760
Arkansas$27,6003,540
Mississippi$27,2501,860
Louisiana$27,2002,380

How to become a food server

BLS lists no formal educational credential and no related work experience for entry[7]. The training details below come from a BLS profile that covers a wider group of food and beverage serving workers[17].

Workers where alcohol is served may need training on state and local alcohol laws. Some states, counties and cities require it, and it typically lasts a few hours[22]. The profile also says most states set a minimum age of 18 for serving alcoholic drinks, even with meals[23].

In an O*NET survey of 26 workers, 48% said a high school diploma or equivalent was required, and 27% said less than a high school diploma[24]. The profile lists communication and customer-service skills as important, along with physical stamina and the strength to carry stock weighing up to 50 pounds[25][26][27][28].

What food servers do

Food servers serve food away from a restaurant setting, such as in hotel rooms, hospital rooms, residential care facilities or cars[29]. O*NET lists these tasks[30]:

Sample job titles include room server, tray server and kitchen runner[31].

Where they work

The BLS profile for the wider group says workers spend most of a shift on their feet and carry heavy trays. Busy periods bring pressure to serve quickly[32]. Slips, cuts and burns are common injuries[33].

Part-time work is common. Shifts often start early or run late, and can fall on weekends and holidays[34]. Work may be seasonal, and school cafeteria staff may work only during the school year[35]. The profile reports that food services and drinking places employed 81% of the wider group in 2025[36]. Only 0.2% of food servers in this category were self-employed[37].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 4.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 296,300 to 309,600 jobs, a gain of 13,300[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[3]. These counts include self-employed workers[2].

About 48,800 openings a year are projected[6]. Openings include jobs that open when people retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 7.9% of workers leave the labor force and 7.8% move to a different occupation[38].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show a job with a low barrier to entry. No formal education or related experience is needed, and training is short[7][20]. Pay is below the median for all occupations, at $35,360 against $50,980[1][5]. Jobs are projected to grow slightly faster than average, and openings are frequent[2][3][6]. Schedules can include evenings, weekends and holidays, and the work is physical[27][34]. Related roles such as waiters and waitresses had a median of $35,230 and cooks in restaurants had $37,390[39].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[39].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a nonrestaurant food server make an hour?
The median was $17.00 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $13.48 and the 90th was $22.17[1][10].
What education do you need to be a food server?
BLS lists no formal educational credential for entry, with short-term on-the-job training[7].
Is food server work in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 48,800 openings a year[2][3][6].
What is the highest paying state for food servers?
New York, with a median of $39,370, followed by California at $39,010[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the US was $35,360 per year and $17.00 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Food Servers, Nonrestaurant is projected to grow 4.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 296,300 to 309,600 jobs (a change of +13,300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant: 10th percentile $28,030, 25th percentile $31,190, 75th percentile $38,500, 90th percentile $46,120. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 48,800 openings for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Food Servers, Nonrestaurant: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant was $36,140 per year and $17.37 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant: 10th percentile $13.48, 25th percentile $14.99, 75th percentile $18.51, 90th percentile $22.17. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 293,900 people were employed as Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Food Servers, Nonrestaurant jobs: California 32,430; Florida 19,240; Illinois 17,560; New York 17,520; Ohio 15,320. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant (areas with at least 100 jobs): Kahului-Wailuku, HI $62,960; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,210; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $44,710; Napa, CA $41,850; Burlington-South Burlington, VT $41,090; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $40,640; Ithaca, NY $40,240; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $40,180. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Food Servers, Nonrestaurant jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 19,450 (median $39,120); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 12,200 (median $35,670); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 11,850 (median $38,350); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 7,610 (median $33,300); Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 6,740 (median $36,420); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 5,760 (median $37,540). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers" covers Food Servers, Nonrestaurant together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. O*NET 35-3041.00 survey of workers (26 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 48%, Less than a High School Diploma 27%, Some College Courses 9%, Post-Doctoral Training 7%, Bachelor's Degree 6% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. O*NET description of Food Servers, Nonrestaurant. O*NET OnLine
  30. O*NET task list for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant. O*NET OnLine
  31. O*NET 35-3041.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Food Server, Food Service Worker, Kitchen Runner, Room Server, Room Service Server, Tray Server. O*NET OnLine
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of food and beverage serving and related workers in 2025: Food services and drinking places 81%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  37. BLS Employment Projections: 0.2% of Food Servers, Nonrestaurant were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  38. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant: 7.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 7.8% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  39. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.