How much does a server make?
Answer: A typical server in the United States makes $35,230 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 2.3 million people work in this job. Below the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Server pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $18,100 | $35,230 | $64,720 | about 2.3 million |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $62,390 | about 14,000 |
| Vermont | $59,140 | about 4,000 |
| Washington | $56,130 | about 45,000 |
| Oregon | $48,410 | about 23,000 |
| District of Columbia | $47,850 | about 12,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., tips are part of many servers’ earnings, and pay can differ by restaurant type and local wage rules. Experience may help servers move into fine dining, where tips can be higher; part-time hours and evening, weekend, or holiday shifts also affect total earnings.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a server do?
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment. Excludes “Fast Food and Counter Workers” (35-3023).
What's a typical day like?
Before guests arrive, servers set tables and stock napkins; then they take orders, carry food from the kitchen, check on diners, and collect payment. Between guests, they clear and reset tables, spending most of the shift standing.
How to get this job
In the U.S., no diploma or experience is usually needed; restaurants train new servers on the job for days to a few weeks. Most states require servers to be 18 or older to serve alcohol, and some set a higher age.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like keeping things organized and helping and teaching.
Did you know?
U.S. servers spend an average of 98.6% of their workday standing—not sitting!
What about Japan?
Nearly the same jobThe US figure is the median and the Japan figure is the average, so it's not a perfect comparison. Prices differ too.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Food Preparation and Serving jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
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.bls.gov/ooh/food-preparation-and-serving/waiters-and-waitresses.htm
- www.bls.gov/ors/factsheet/pdf/waiters-and-waitresses.pdf
- www.dol.gov/general/topic/wages/wagestips
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/35-3031.00
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY