How much does a food server make?
a year · about $17 an hour
A typical food server in the United States makes $35,360 a year, about $17 an hour, below a typical US worker ($50,980) (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They check trays for utensils and the right meal, then carry them to hotel or hospital rooms. They make sure special-diet instructions are followed, collect used dishes, and restock supplies.
Did you know? Some food servers must make sure each meal reaches the right person and follows special-diet rules—especially important when delivering trays in hospitals.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $28,030 and $46,120How do you become one?
In the U.S., many jobs require no diploma or experience, though employers set their own rules. Workers learn customer service, safe food handling, and cleaning on the job; alcohol service may require local training.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and helping and teaching
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience, location, hours worked, and employer type—such as a hospital, hotel, or caterer—can affect pay. Special duties like checking patients’ meal plans add responsibility; most jobs need no special license, though alcohol service may require local training.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in New York ($39,370), lowest in Louisiana ($27,200).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $28,030 | $35,360 | $46,120 | about 294,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 | about 18,000 |
| California | $39,010 | about 32,000 |
| Colorado | $38,900 | about 8,000 |
| Washington | $38,870 | about 8,000 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 | about 1,000 |
Official definition: Serve food to individuals outside of a restaurant environment, such as in hotel rooms, hospital rooms, residential care facilities, or cars. Excludes “Fast Food and Counter Workers” (35-3023) and “Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers” (41-9091).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/35-3041.00
- www.bls.gov/ooh/food-preparation-and-serving/print/food-and-beverage-serving-and
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes353041.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY