353 metro areas

Food Server, Nonrestaurant Salary by City (2026)

Food servers earn the most in Kahului, HI, an average of $59,030 a year, against $36,140 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in Kahului, HI ($53,960 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.

US average (mean): $36,140BLS OEWS, May 2025
Highest-paying city: $59,030Kahului, HI
Best after cost of living: $53,960Kahului, HI
Metro areas: 353With their own estimate

Top cities

Highest-paying cities for food servers

Mean annual wage

Top 10 metro areas

Kahului, HI$59,030
San Jose, CA$50,590
San Francisco, CA$48,590
Napa, CA$48,550
Vallejo, CA$46,720
Sacramento, CA$44,510
Hanford, CA$44,220
Seattle, WA$43,720
Santa Rosa, CA$43,510
Burlington, VT$43,490

Top 10 metro areas by mean wage for food servers
Item	Value
Kahului-Wailuku, HI	$59,030
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$50,590
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$48,590
Napa, CA	$48,550
Vallejo, CA	$46,720
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$44,510
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	$44,220
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$43,720
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$43,510
Burlington-South Burlington, VT	$43,490

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

At national-average prices

Mean wage ÷ BEA price level

Kahului, HI$59,030 nominal$53,960
San Jose, CA$50,590 nominal$45,810
Grand Forks, ND-MN$37,770 nominal$43,580
Hanford, CA$44,220 nominal$43,520
Napa, CA$48,550 nominal$43,130
Burlington, VT$43,490 nominal$43,080
Vallejo, CA$46,720 nominal$43,070
Pueblo, CO$39,370 nominal$42,900
Fargo, ND-MN$38,790 nominal$42,690
Minot, ND$37,020 nominal$42,540

Top 10 metro areas by price-adjusted mean wage for food servers
Item	Value
Kahului-Wailuku, HI	$53,960
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$45,810
Grand Forks, ND-MN	$43,580
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	$43,520
Napa, CA	$43,130
Burlington-South Burlington, VT	$43,080
Vallejo, CA	$43,070
Pueblo, CO	$42,900
Fargo, ND-MN	$42,690
Minot, ND	$42,540

Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024

Every city

Food Server, Nonrestaurant salary in every metro area

Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.

Food Server, Nonrestaurant pay in every metro area with a BLS estimate
#	Metro area	Mean	Entry (Level I)	Experienced (Level IV)	At US prices
1	Kahului, HI	$59,030	$38,790	$68,990	$53,960
2	San Jose, CA	$50,590	$41,350	$55,140	$45,810
3	San Francisco, CA	$48,590	$39,620	$53,020	$42,030
4	Napa, CA	$48,550	$35,760	$54,850	$43,130
5	Vallejo, CA	$46,720	$36,630	$51,690	$43,070
6	Sacramento, CA	$44,510	$35,800	$48,800	$41,730
7	Hanford, CA	$44,220	$36,090	$48,210	$43,520
8	Seattle, WA	$43,720	$37,690	$46,680	$39,340
9	Santa Rosa, CA	$43,510	$36,500	$46,950	$40,370
10	Burlington, VT	$43,490	$35,570	$47,400	$43,080
11	Los Angeles, CA	$42,740	$35,690	$46,220	$37,630
12	San Luis Obispo, CA	$42,450	$35,760	$45,760	$39,090
13	Salinas, CA	$42,430	$35,360	$45,910	$38,910
14	New York, NY-NJ	$42,370	$34,860	$46,050	$37,640
15	Santa Maria, CA	$42,330	$35,530	$45,680	$38,910
16	Denver, CO	$41,810	$34,800	$45,260	$39,520
17	Oxnard, CA	$41,540	$35,550	$44,470	$37,580
18	Stockton, CA	$41,480	$35,030	$44,660	$39,470
19	Olympia, WA	$41,430	$35,210	$44,510	$39,960
20	San Diego, CA	$41,410	$35,860	$44,140	$37,010
21	Santa Cruz, CA	$41,160	$36,400	$43,510	$37,450
22	Kennewick, WA	$41,080	$35,570	$43,800	$41,050
23	Riverside, CA	$40,930	$34,780	$43,970	$38,450
24	Boulder, CO	$40,750	$34,840	$43,660	$38,740
25	Portland, OR-WA	$40,660	$35,590	$43,160	$38,570
26	Bend, OR	$40,540	$34,670	$43,430	$39,130
27	Barnstable Town, MA	$40,520	$35,820	$42,830	$41,200
28	Modesto, CA	$40,160	$35,710	$42,370	$38,580
29	Bakersfield, CA	$40,140	$34,590	$42,890	$39,790
30	Bremerton, WA	$40,020	$35,280	$42,350	$37,900
31	Yuba City, CA	$39,980	$35,480	$42,180	$38,360
32	Fresno, CA	$39,920	$34,690	$42,490	$39,080
33	Urban Honolulu, HI	$39,830	$31,510	$43,950	$35,900
34	Ithaca, NY	$39,770	$34,690	$42,290	$38,490
35	Bridgeport, CT	$39,710	$34,960	$42,040	$37,160
36	Spokane, WA	$39,620	$34,740	$42,020	$39,480
37	Chico, CA	$39,600	$34,740	$42,000	$39,130
38	Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV	$39,520	$34,630	$41,910	$36,300
39	Pueblo, CO	$39,370	$33,200	$42,430	$42,900
40	Kiryas Joel, NY	$39,230	$32,860	$42,370	$35,850
41	Anchorage, AK	$39,080	$28,430	$44,320	$37,070
42	Boston, MA-NH	$38,940	$34,150	$41,310	$35,970
43	Fort Collins, CO	$38,880	$33,280	$41,620	$38,450
44	Fargo, ND-MN	$38,790	$32,860	$41,700	$42,690
45	Portland, ME	$38,770	$33,130	$41,560	$38,060
46	Grand Junction, CO	$38,730	$32,300	$41,890	$40,570
47	Mount Vernon, WA	$38,730	$35,420	$40,370	$37,810
48	Las Vegas, NV	$38,710	$30,410	$42,810	$38,630
49	Colorado Springs, CO	$38,670	$33,300	$41,310	$38,400
50	Grants Pass, OR	$38,670	$33,760	$41,080	$39,560
51	Flagstaff, AZ	$38,580	$33,280	$41,200	$38,460
52	Longview, WA	$38,150	$34,650	$39,850	$39,110
53	Salem, OR	$38,150	$32,720	$40,830	$36,810
54	Yakima, WA	$37,980	$35,010	$39,440	$39,750
55	Wenatchee, WA	$37,940	$34,650	$39,560	$36,530
56	Bismarck, ND	$37,880	$32,090	$40,730	$41,620
57	Greeley, CO	$37,880	$32,340	$40,600	$37,810
58	Grand Forks, ND-MN	$37,770	$32,280	$40,480	$43,580
59	Minneapolis, MN-WI	$37,750	$34,130	$39,520	$36,010
60	Visalia, CA	$37,750	$34,490	$39,370	$37,820
61	Lewiston, ME	$37,710	$33,880	$39,580	$39,810
62	Bellingham, WA	$37,670	$35,240	$38,880	$36,450
63	Phoenix, AZ	$37,670	$33,360	$39,790	$36,460
64	El Centro, CA	$37,650	$34,320	$39,290	$39,560
65	Bozeman, MT	$37,460	$31,010	$40,620	$36,540
66	Prescott Valley, AZ	$37,440	$31,800	$40,230	$38,100
67	Binghamton, NY	$37,380	$32,880	$39,580	$40,250
68	Atlantic City, NJ	$37,340	$32,490	$39,730	$37,770
69	Lexington Park, MD	$37,340	$34,110	$38,920	$37,060
70	Vineland, NJ	$37,340	$32,860	$39,520	$38,910
71	Naples, FL	$37,250	$30,660	$40,480	$36,090
72	New Haven, CT	$37,230	$34,940	$38,360	$35,610
73	Madison, WI	$37,210	$30,640	$40,460	$38,250
74	Kingston, NY	$37,110	$33,280	$39,000	$36,850
75	Redding, CA	$37,110	$34,380	$38,460	$36,860
76	Walla Walla, WA	$37,090	$34,880	$38,190	$37,650
77	Albany, OR	$37,070	$33,030	$39,040	$36,310
78	Worcester, MA	$37,040	$33,570	$38,750	$36,130
79	Bangor, ME	$37,020	$33,160	$38,940	$38,360
80	Minot, ND	$37,020	$30,100	$40,440	$42,540
81	Syracuse, NY	$36,920	$33,030	$38,830	$38,560
82	Glens Falls, NY	$36,880	$33,380	$38,600	$38,880
83	Battle Creek, MI	$36,860	$33,030	$38,730	$40,710
84	Rochester, NY	$36,840	$32,840	$38,790	$37,970
85	Rochester, MN	$36,820	$32,280	$39,040	$40,540
86	Hartford, CT	$36,800	$34,440	$37,960	$35,820
87	Trenton, NJ	$36,770	$32,910	$38,690	$35,640
88	Manchester, NH	$36,750	$28,520	$40,810	$34,780
89	Albany, NY	$36,730	$32,880	$38,630	$36,890
90	Duluth, MN-WI	$36,730	$31,660	$39,230	$41,380
91	Norwich, CT	$36,610	$34,570	$37,610	$36,450
92	Chicago, IL-IN	$36,550	$31,950	$38,810	$35,280
93	Pittsfield, MA	$36,550	$32,760	$38,420	$38,430
94	Medford, OR	$36,420	$32,510	$38,360	$35,910
95	Baltimore, MD	$36,400	$32,660	$38,250	$34,840
96	Reno, NV	$36,400	$29,680	$39,730	$36,030
97	Sheboygan, WI	$36,360	$31,410	$38,790	$38,680
98	Eugene, OR	$36,250	$32,320	$38,190	$35,690
99	Providence, RI-MA	$36,130	$32,340	$38,000	$35,500
100	Utica, NY	$36,050	$32,490	$37,810	$38,900
101	Amherst Town, MA	$35,940	$32,930	$37,440	$35,850
102	Springfield, MA	$35,920	$32,660	$37,540	$37,390
103	Waterbury, CT	$35,900	$34,200	$36,730	$35,980
104	Milwaukee, WI	$35,800	$29,810	$38,750	$36,930
105	Buffalo, NY	$35,690	$32,320	$37,360	$37,240
106	Champaign, IL	$35,670	$31,280	$37,840	$38,480
107	Great Falls, MT	$35,670	$29,200	$38,830	$36,830
108	Saginaw, MI	$35,590	$29,810	$38,440	$39,160
109	Miami, FL	$35,570	$29,830	$38,400	$31,160
110	Yuma, AZ	$35,550	$30,620	$38,000	$38,350
111	Albuquerque, NM	$35,460	$30,530	$37,900	$37,110
112	Corvallis, OR	$35,420	$32,360	$36,920	$34,050
113	Green Bay, WI	$35,380	$30,330	$37,860	$38,010
114	Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$35,380	$30,180	$37,960	$39,040
115	Atlanta, GA	$35,360	$27,890	$39,020	$35,340
116	Boise City, ID	$35,300	$31,370	$37,210	$35,880
117	Nashville, TN	$35,260	$25,790	$39,920	$36,600
118	Richmond, VA	$35,260	$30,100	$37,790	$36,030
119	Kalamazoo, MI	$35,240	$28,660	$38,480	$37,160
120	St. Cloud, MN	$35,210	$31,740	$36,920	$40,180
121	St. Louis, MO-IL	$35,210	$30,990	$37,290	$37,030
122	Fort Wayne, IN	$35,150	$27,040	$39,150	$37,970
123	Racine, WI	$35,110	$29,620	$37,810	$36,590
124	Allentown, PA-NJ	$34,960	$28,160	$38,330	$34,970
125	Springfield, IL	$34,920	$31,260	$36,730	$37,650
126	Chambersburg, PA	$34,900	$26,350	$39,100	$36,880
127	Peoria, IL	$34,820	$31,300	$36,550	$38,170
128	Sandusky, OH	$34,800	$27,560	$38,360	$38,980
129	Goldsboro, NC	$34,780	$23,980	$40,080	$39,320
130	La Crosse, WI-MN	$34,780	$30,350	$36,960	$37,900
131	Asheville, NC	$34,760	$26,830	$38,650	$36,020
132	Charlottesville, VA	$34,760	$30,140	$37,020	$35,060
133	Port St. Lucie, FL	$34,740	$29,540	$37,290	$34,660
134	Tampa, FL	$34,740	$29,950	$37,090	$34,430
135	Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$34,650	$29,330	$37,270	$33,790
136	Raleigh, NC	$34,650	$26,980	$38,440	$35,300
137	Lake Havasu City, AZ	$34,630	$31,010	$36,400	$36,800
138	Tucson, AZ	$34,630	$30,870	$36,480	$35,740
139	Charlotte, NC-SC	$34,610	$27,680	$38,020	$35,550
140	Mankato, MN	$34,610	$31,100	$36,340	$38,050
141	Jacksonville, FL	$34,570	$29,760	$36,920	$34,750
142	Muskegon, MI	$34,570	$30,780	$36,440	$37,370
143	Cape Coral, FL	$34,550	$29,600	$36,980	$33,760
144	Gainesville, GA	$34,470	$29,490	$36,900	$35,620
145	North Port, FL	$34,470	$29,290	$37,000	$33,660
146	Detroit, MI	$34,420	$29,640	$36,770	$34,320
147	Williamsport, PA	$34,400	$26,730	$38,190	$37,250
148	Kenosha, WI	$34,340	$29,310	$36,840	$33,960
149	Virginia Beach, VA-NC	$34,240	$29,060	$36,800	$34,960
150	Salisbury, MD	$34,200	$31,430	$35,570	$35,770
151	Rockford, IL	$34,170	$31,200	$35,650	$37,080
152	Staunton, VA	$34,170	$29,370	$36,550	$37,500
153	Traverse City, MI	$34,150	$29,790	$36,320	$36,570
154	Janesville, WI	$34,130	$26,790	$37,750	$36,420
155	Appleton, WI	$34,090	$28,830	$36,670	$36,890
156	Crestview, FL	$34,050	$29,560	$36,250	$35,090
157	Lawton, OK	$34,050	$26,350	$37,840	$39,620
158	Bloomington, IL	$34,030	$31,220	$35,400	$36,380
159	Orlando, FL	$34,030	$29,970	$36,030	$33,550
160	Mansfield, OH	$33,970	$26,440	$37,690	$38,220
161	Gainesville, FL	$33,950	$29,660	$36,050	$35,100
162	St. George, UT	$33,950	$26,730	$37,500	$34,880
163	Fond du Lac, WI	$33,920	$28,120	$36,800	$37,010
164	Hagerstown, MD-WV	$33,920	$30,260	$35,710	$36,020
165	Decatur, IL	$33,900	$31,260	$35,210	$38,340
166	Columbus, OH	$33,860	$27,770	$36,880	$35,470
167	Lakeland, FL	$33,840	$30,080	$35,710	$34,840
168	Palm Bay, FL	$33,840	$29,950	$35,760	$33,840
169	York, PA	$33,820	$27,210	$37,070	$35,230
170	Lynchburg, VA	$33,740	$28,930	$36,110	$37,760
171	Winchester, VA-WV	$33,740	$29,520	$35,820	$34,980
172	Coeur d'Alene, ID	$33,720	$28,750	$36,170	$34,310
173	Wausau, WI	$33,720	$29,410	$35,840	$36,390
174	Pittsburgh, PA	$33,610	$26,690	$37,020	$35,500
175	Kankakee, IL	$33,590	$31,280	$34,720	$34,850
176	Lansing, MI	$33,570	$28,560	$36,050	$35,340
177	Brunswick, GA	$33,550	$22,730	$38,880	$38,250
178	Harrisburg, PA	$33,490	$26,120	$37,130	$33,950
179	Ann Arbor, MI	$33,450	$28,950	$35,670	$33,160
180	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$33,450	$27,750	$36,250	$35,070
181	Kansas City, MO-KS	$33,450	$29,330	$35,480	$36,150
182	Eau Claire, WI	$33,400	$28,770	$35,690	$35,990
183	Springfield, OH	$33,380	$27,080	$36,480	$36,890
184	Wilmington, NC	$33,360	$25,520	$37,210	$34,600
185	Omaha, NE-IA	$33,340	$29,490	$35,260	$36,270
186	Hilton Head Island, SC	$33,300	$24,900	$37,440	$33,970
187	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$33,300	$27,080	$36,360	$35,780
188	Hickory, NC	$33,240	$25,270	$37,150	$37,570
189	Reading, PA	$33,240	$26,420	$36,610	$34,250
190	Durham, NC	$33,180	$21,550	$38,900	$34,010
191	Oshkosh, WI	$33,160	$28,700	$35,340	$35,680
192	Greensboro, NC	$33,030	$26,330	$36,320	$35,570
193	Bay City, MI	$32,950	$27,960	$35,400	$35,850
194	Columbia, MO	$32,950	$29,200	$34,800	$36,840
195	Grand Rapids, MI	$32,950	$28,810	$34,990	$34,490
196	Huntington, WV-KY-OH	$32,930	$25,850	$36,400	$37,240
197	Terre Haute, IN	$32,930	$27,270	$35,690	$37,510
198	Des Moines, IA	$32,910	$28,230	$35,240	$35,890
199	Midland, TX	$32,910	$25,290	$36,650	$34,360
200	Grand Island, NE	$32,880	$28,950	$34,820	$37,940
201	Lebanon, PA	$32,880	$27,930	$35,320	$35,270
202	Roanoke, VA	$32,840	$29,100	$34,690	$35,080
203	Deltona, FL	$32,820	$29,520	$34,440	$33,030
204	Indianapolis, IN	$32,820	$27,250	$35,550	$34,300
205	Davenport, IA-IL	$32,760	$29,330	$34,440	$36,780
206	Winston, NC	$32,680	$25,440	$36,230	$35,510
207	Erie, PA	$32,610	$25,170	$36,250	$35,850
208	Pensacola, FL	$32,610	$28,520	$34,630	$33,370
209	Salt Lake City, UT	$32,610	$24,170	$36,770	$32,330
210	Blacksburg, VA	$32,550	$29,580	$34,010	$35,110
211	Harrisonburg, VA	$32,550	$29,890	$33,880	$34,300
212	Sebastian, FL	$32,550	$28,430	$34,570	$33,110
213	Akron, OH	$32,530	$27,040	$35,240	$34,840
214	Cheyenne, WY	$32,490	$23,210	$37,070	$33,670
215	Scranton, PA	$32,470	$26,890	$35,190	$34,710
216	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$32,430	$24,980	$36,110	$35,180
217	Elkhart, IN	$32,390	$27,250	$34,920	$35,860
218	Spartanburg, SC	$32,390	$25,420	$35,820	$35,570
219	Austin, TX	$32,340	$24,480	$36,210	$32,980
220	Farmington, NM	$32,300	$28,140	$34,360	$36,830
221	Ocala, FL	$32,280	$28,370	$34,220	$33,900
222	Dover, DE	$32,240	$31,200	$32,740	$33,060
223	Springfield, MO	$32,180	$29,040	$33,740	$36,330
224	Cleveland, OH	$32,160	$26,350	$35,030	$34,240
225	Dubuque, IA	$32,140	$28,500	$33,920	$36,800
226	Niles, MI	$32,090	$28,230	$33,990	$34,740
227	Lincoln, NE	$32,050	$28,700	$33,720	$35,000
228	Toledo, OH	$32,050	$26,870	$34,590	$35,040
229	Bowling Green, KY	$32,030	$25,080	$35,440	$35,520
230	Charleston, SC	$31,950	$22,480	$36,610	$31,650
231	Lima, OH	$31,930	$26,940	$34,380	$35,610
232	Ames, IA	$31,890	$27,230	$34,200	$35,900
233	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$31,840	$26,690	$34,380	$36,830
234	Dayton, OH	$31,780	$26,940	$34,150	$34,280
235	Athens, GA	$31,760	$27,540	$33,820	$34,030
236	Billings, MT	$31,700	$24,630	$35,190	$33,890
237	St. Joseph, MO-KS	$31,620	$28,770	$33,010	$36,600
238	Lancaster, PA	$31,600	$25,380	$34,650	$32,160
239	Tulsa, OK	$31,600	$25,170	$34,780	$35,420
240	Joplin, MO-KS	$31,570	$28,600	$33,030	$36,830
241	Pinehurst, NC	$31,550	$25,480	$34,550	$35,720
242	Columbus, IN	$31,530	$26,850	$33,840	$33,900
243	Jefferson City, MO	$31,510	$28,620	$32,950	$35,820
244	Jackson, MI	$31,450	$27,980	$33,180	$34,270
245	Jacksonville, NC	$31,430	$24,340	$34,920	$34,130
246	Dallas, TX	$31,390	$25,130	$34,470	$30,450
247	Jonesboro, AR	$31,390	$25,770	$34,170	$36,550
248	Cedar Rapids, IA	$31,370	$27,410	$33,300	$35,260
249	State College, PA	$31,370	$23,730	$35,110	$32,420
250	Evansville, IN	$31,320	$25,560	$34,170	$34,220
251	Missoula, MT	$31,320	$28,060	$32,950	$32,470
252	Flint, MI	$31,240	$28,180	$32,740	$33,580
253	Provo, UT	$31,220	$25,400	$34,070	$31,780
254	Weirton, WV-OH	$31,180	$25,520	$33,950	$35,020
255	Columbia, SC	$31,160	$25,080	$34,150	$33,270
256	Fayetteville, AR	$31,140	$27,330	$33,010	$34,090
257	Ogden, UT	$31,140	$25,540	$33,880	$31,030
258	Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	$31,100	$28,870	$32,200	$36,130
259	Jackson, TN	$31,080	$25,690	$33,720	$36,340
260	Kokomo, IN	$31,080	$24,810	$34,150	$34,670
261	Tallahassee, FL	$31,080	$28,200	$32,490	$33,090
262	Oklahoma City, OK	$31,030	$25,920	$33,550	$34,320
263	Greenville, SC	$31,010	$25,600	$33,680	$33,250
264	Idaho Falls, ID	$30,990	$26,640	$33,160	$32,820
265	Lafayette, IN	$30,990	$25,380	$33,760	$33,170
266	Owensboro, KY	$30,950	$25,920	$33,430	$34,930
267	Lexington, KY	$30,910	$25,380	$33,610	$33,280
268	Augusta, GA-SC	$30,870	$25,330	$33,570	$33,590
269	Warner Robins, GA	$30,780	$26,370	$32,970	$32,820
270	Birmingham, AL	$30,760	$26,480	$32,880	$33,560
271	Knoxville, TN	$30,740	$24,480	$33,820	$33,210
272	Casper, WY	$30,660	$21,530	$35,170	$32,680
273	Burlington, NC	$30,620	$24,270	$33,740	$32,860
274	Chattanooga, TN-GA	$30,620	$23,750	$34,010	$33,480
275	Huntsville, AL	$30,600	$25,960	$32,880	$32,880
276	South Bend, IN-MI	$30,600	$26,020	$32,860	$32,950
277	Iowa City, IA	$30,580	$26,560	$32,530	$33,420
278	Greenville, NC	$30,560	$22,880	$34,320	$34,570
279	Cleveland, TN	$30,530	$25,690	$32,930	$34,660
280	Macon, GA	$30,490	$25,980	$32,720	$34,440
281	Savannah, GA	$30,390	$25,420	$32,840	$31,920
282	Canton, OH	$30,370	$26,540	$32,240	$33,970
283	Tuscaloosa, AL	$30,280	$26,000	$32,390	$34,520
284	Gulfport, MS	$30,220	$23,820	$33,400	$33,580
285	Homosassa Springs, FL	$30,220	$27,190	$31,720	$32,330
286	Decatur, AL	$30,160	$27,040	$31,680	$34,580
287	Daphne, AL	$30,140	$25,150	$32,590	$31,830
288	Fayetteville, NC	$30,040	$23,900	$33,050	$32,660
289	Hot Springs, AR	$30,040	$24,610	$32,700	$35,040
290	Gettysburg, PA	$30,010	$28,270	$30,890	$31,460
291	Albany, GA	$29,990	$25,670	$32,140	$34,210
292	Sebring, FL	$29,970	$27,080	$31,390	$32,410
293	Kingsport, TN-VA	$29,850	$26,080	$31,700	$34,530
294	Florence, SC	$29,830	$26,000	$31,700	$34,380
295	Mobile, AL	$29,740	$26,580	$31,300	$33,760
296	Houston, TX	$29,720	$23,550	$32,780	$30,130
297	Rocky Mount, NC	$29,700	$23,900	$32,570	$33,750
298	San Antonio, TX	$29,660	$22,360	$33,280	$31,310
299	Muncie, IN	$29,520	$25,460	$31,530	$33,490
300	Youngstown, OH	$29,520	$24,420	$32,010	$33,780
301	Florence, AL	$29,470	$25,810	$31,280	$34,750
302	Columbus, GA-AL	$29,450	$23,550	$32,360	$32,980
303	Altoona, PA	$29,410	$24,840	$31,660	$32,860
304	Montgomery, AL	$29,370	$25,000	$31,510	$32,750
305	El Paso, TX	$29,140	$21,690	$32,820	$32,410
306	Wheeling, WV-OH	$29,140	$25,400	$30,990	$32,990
307	Charleston, WV	$29,120	$23,710	$31,760	$32,820
308	Waterloo, IA	$28,910	$24,190	$31,240	$33,210
309	Valdosta, GA	$28,540	$23,520	$30,990	$32,330
310	Lubbock, TX	$28,450	$22,530	$31,390	$31,160
311	Little Rock, AR	$28,430	$24,810	$30,220	$31,810
312	Amarillo, TX	$28,410	$24,000	$30,600	$30,940
313	Rome, GA	$28,290	$24,940	$29,930	$31,380
314	Killeen, TX	$28,270	$20,760	$31,970	$31,020
315	Tyler, TX	$28,250	$23,920	$30,370	$30,650
316	Clarksville, TN-KY	$28,230	$22,030	$31,280	$31,040
317	Johnstown, PA	$28,160	$24,230	$30,100	$32,770
318	Sherman, TX	$28,140	$23,440	$30,450	$30,010
319	Jackson, MS	$28,100	$22,190	$31,010	$31,560
320	Beaumont, TX	$28,060	$23,110	$30,510	$31,160
321	Waco, TX	$27,980	$23,480	$30,180	$30,230
322	Logan, UT-ID	$27,890	$23,150	$30,220	$29,070
323	Fort Smith, AR-OK	$27,830	$24,320	$29,560	$32,400
324	Johnson City, TN	$27,710	$21,530	$30,740	$31,510
325	New Orleans, LA	$27,640	$21,300	$30,760	$29,850
326	Myrtle Beach, SC	$27,540	$18,080	$32,220	$29,410
327	Anniston, AL	$27,250	$23,880	$28,890	$31,700
328	Abilene, TX	$27,160	$23,670	$28,890	$30,060
329	Baton Rouge, LA	$27,140	$20,260	$30,530	$29,900
330	Odessa, TX	$27,080	$21,510	$29,830	$28,840
331	Wichita Falls, TX	$26,960	$23,400	$28,700	$30,120
332	Longview, TX	$26,890	$22,710	$28,950	$30,050
333	Lawrence, KS	$26,830	$22,320	$29,060	$29,730
334	Topeka, KS	$26,580	$21,490	$29,080	$29,930
335	Slidell, LA	$26,210	$20,240	$29,160	$28,270
336	Corpus Christi, TX	$26,170	$21,570	$28,430	$28,240
337	Dothan, AL	$26,080	$22,920	$27,620	$31,110
338	Texarkana, TX-AR	$25,810	$23,000	$27,210	$30,720
339	Lafayette, LA	$25,710	$21,610	$27,710	$29,480
340	Hammond, LA	$25,540	$21,380	$27,600	$30,240
341	Wichita, KS	$25,460	$21,860	$27,230	$28,620
342	Lake Charles, LA	$25,130	$18,640	$28,310	$29,270
343	Dalton, GA	$25,020	$18,390	$28,290	$27,850
344	College Station, TX	$24,770	$19,010	$27,600	$27,230
345	Houma, LA	$24,750	$19,640	$27,290	$29,080
346	Hattiesburg, MS	$24,190	$18,840	$26,810	$27,600
347	Shreveport, LA	$24,170	$17,370	$27,540	$28,510
348	Monroe, LA	$24,130	$18,320	$27,000	$28,860
349	Manhattan, KS	$23,000	$21,400	$23,800	$25,510
350	Alexandria, LA	$22,900	$19,030	$24,790	$26,730
351	San Juan, PR	$22,860	$21,840	$23,380	N/A
352	Ponce, PR	$22,840	$21,840	$23,340	N/A
353	Mayaguez, PR	$22,280	$21,840	$22,510	N/A

More on food servers

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Method

About these numbers

Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.

Questions

Food Server, Nonrestaurant salary by city: FAQ

Which city pays food servers the most?

Kahului, HI, where the average (mean) wage is $59,030 a year, followed by San Jose, CA ($50,590), San Francisco, CA ($48,590), Napa, CA ($48,550). The national mean is $36,140 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Where do food servers earn the most after cost of living?

Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in Kahului, HI ($53,960 at national prices, $59,030 nominal), San Jose, CA ($45,810 at national prices, $50,590 nominal), Grand Forks, ND-MN ($43,580 at national prices, $37,770 nominal).

How much do food servers make in the biggest cities?

New York, NY-NJ: $42,370; Los Angeles, CA: $42,740; Chicago, IL-IN: $36,550; Dallas, TX: $31,390; Houston, TX: $29,720 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).

Where do food servers earn the least?

Of the 353 metro areas with their own estimate, Mayaguez, PR has the lowest mean wage, $22,280.