Food Server salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A food server earns a median of $35,360 a year ($17.00 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $36,140. About 293,900 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $35,360
- Gross pay
- $1,360.00
- Federal income tax
- −$79.35
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$84.32
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$19.72
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,176.61
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $35,360
- Federal
- $2,063
- FICA
- $2,705
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $30,592
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Food Server salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 | $42,560 | 17,520 |
| California | $39,010 | $43,580 | 32,430 |
| Colorado | $38,900 | $40,920 | 7,750 |
| Washington | $38,870 | $42,000 | 8,050 |
| Alaska | $38,090 | $37,860 | 430 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 | $41,460 | 1,260 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 | $45,670 | 880 |
| Maine | $37,680 | $38,530 | 540 |
| Vermont | $37,540 | $40,840 | 780 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 | $38,080 | 1,630 |
| Massachusetts | $36,750 | $38,520 | 5,830 |
| New Hampshire | $36,710 | $37,070 | 1,770 |
| Maryland | $36,650 | $37,060 | 6,600 |
| Oregon | $36,620 | $39,210 | 4,420 |
| New Jersey | $36,390 | $37,180 | 11,400 |
| Nevada | $36,030 | $38,240 | 1,820 |
| Minnesota | $36,000 | $37,010 | 11,090 |
| Connecticut | $35,950 | $37,550 | 5,050 |
| New Mexico | $35,740 | $36,310 | 670 |
| Arizona | $35,390 | $36,990 | 4,620 |
| Virginia | $35,090 | $35,590 | 7,420 |
| Illinois | $35,080 | $35,730 | 17,560 |
| Rhode Island | $34,860 | $36,150 | 1,020 |
| Wisconsin | $34,670 | $35,080 | 6,680 |
| Michigan | $34,260 | $33,930 | 7,700 |
| Idaho | $34,220 | $33,920 | 930 |
| Florida | $33,930 | $34,530 | 19,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $33,300 | $33,720 | 13,940 |
| Wyoming | $33,090 | $32,470 | 250 |
| Kentucky | $32,200 | $32,750 | 3,660 |
| Montana | $32,090 | $32,400 | 1,050 |
| South Dakota | $31,980 | $32,870 | 160 |
| Indiana | $31,840 | $32,400 | 3,900 |
| Missouri | $31,840 | $33,390 | 7,490 |
| South Carolina | $31,740 | $31,270 | 2,990 |
| Nebraska | $31,540 | $32,860 | 3,800 |
| Georgia | $31,530 | $33,270 | 4,970 |
| North Carolina | $31,460 | $33,150 | 8,820 |
| Delaware | $31,430 | $34,410 | 1,010 |
| Tennessee | $30,670 | $32,590 | 5,230 |
| Ohio | $30,440 | $32,470 | 15,320 |
| Utah | $30,170 | $31,930 | 2,430 |
| West Virginia | $30,170 | $30,410 | 460 |
| Iowa | $30,110 | $31,000 | 5,270 |
| Texas | $29,300 | $29,950 | 14,340 |
| Kansas | $29,040 | $28,610 | 1,270 |
| Alabama | $29,000 | $29,110 | 2,920 |
| Oklahoma | $28,490 | $30,180 | 1,760 |
| Arkansas | $27,600 | $29,110 | 3,540 |
| Mississippi | $27,250 | $26,970 | 1,860 |
| Louisiana | $27,200 | $26,000 | 2,380 |
Similar jobs
- Food Preparation Worker: $35,320
- Waiter and Waitress: $35,230
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker: $35,840
- Cook: $35,880
- Dishwasher: $34,810
- Bartender: $34,340
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper: $33,980
- Cook: $37,390
BLS occupation: Food Servers, Nonrestaurant. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 35-3041). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $17.00; the average is $17.37.
Which state pays food servers the most?
New York ($39,370 median), followed by California and Colorado.
What is the salary range for a food server?
The bottom 10% earn under $28,030 and the top 10% earn over $46,120 a year.
How much is $35,360 after taxes?
About $30,592 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $29,735 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.