How much does a server make?
a year · about $17 an hour
A typical server in the United States makes $35,230 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?
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.
Did you know? U.S. servers spend an average of 98.6% of their workday standing—not sitting!
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $18,100 and $64,720How do you become one?
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.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like keeping things organized and helping and teaching
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.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Hawaii ($62,390), lowest in Louisiana ($15,080).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
In Japan, a server averages $24,732. Server salary in Japan
Data table and sources
| 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 |
Official definition: Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment. Excludes “Fast Food and Counter Workers” (35-3023).
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