Food Servers Salary by State
The national median pay for food servers is $35,360 a year. By state, it ranges from $27,200 in Louisiana to $39,370 in New York.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $28,030
- 25th percentile
- $31,190
- Median
- $35,360
- 75th percentile
- $38,500
- Top 10%
- $46,120
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job. About 293,900 jobs.
Median pay in 50 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $39,370 | +11% | $33,110 | $52,630 | 17,520 |
| 2 | California | $39,010 | +10% | $35,120 | $57,550 | 32,430 |
| 3 | Colorado | $38,900 | +10% | $31,860 | $51,440 | 7,750 |
| 4 | Washington | $38,870 | +10% | $35,050 | $50,910 | 8,050 |
| 5 | Alaska | $38,090 | +8% | $25,140 | $46,160 | 430 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $37,920 | +7% | $36,400 | $54,650 | 1,260 |
| 7 | Hawaii | $37,920 | +7% | $31,250 | $68,170 | 880 |
| 8 | Maine | $37,680 | +7% | $31,570 | $45,000 | 540 |
| 9 | Vermont | $37,540 | +6% | $32,970 | $54,380 | 780 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $36,910 | +4% | $31,140 | $46,320 | 1,630 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $36,750 | +4% | $33,990 | $47,630 | 5,830 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $36,710 | +4% | $28,710 | $46,090 | 1,770 |
| 13 | Maryland | $36,650 | +4% | $31,840 | $42,930 | 6,600 |
| 14 | Oregon | $36,620 | +4% | $33,240 | $48,660 | 4,420 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $36,390 | +3% | $32,220 | $43,800 | 11,400 |
| 16 | Nevada | $36,030 | +2% | $29,110 | $51,000 | 1,820 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $36,000 | +2% | $31,760 | $44,370 | 11,090 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $35,950 | +2% | $34,040 | $42,850 | 5,050 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $35,740 | +1% | $29,750 | $45,190 | 670 |
| 20 | Arizona | $35,390 | 0% | $31,400 | $46,370 | 4,620 |
| 21 | Virginia | $35,090 | −1% | $29,040 | $42,930 | 7,420 |
| 22 | Illinois | $35,080 | −1% | $31,200 | $41,960 | 17,560 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $34,860 | −1% | $31,320 | $42,990 | 1,020 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $34,670 | −2% | $28,640 | $44,080 | 6,680 |
| 25 | Michigan | $34,260 | −3% | $28,730 | $38,180 | 7,700 |
| 26 | Idaho | $34,220 | −3% | $27,980 | $39,210 | 930 |
| 27 | Florida | $33,930 | −4% | $29,210 | $39,000 | 19,240 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $33,300 | −6% | $27,450 | $42,980 | 13,940 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $33,090 | −6% | $21,840 | $42,740 | 250 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $32,200 | −9% | $25,790 | $42,060 | 3,660 |
| 31 | Montana | $32,090 | −9% | $23,010 | $38,210 | 1,050 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $31,980 | −10% | $26,810 | $43,070 | 160 |
| 33 | Indiana | $31,840 | −10% | $26,360 | $38,350 | 3,900 |
| 34 | Missouri | $31,840 | −10% | $28,600 | $38,370 | 7,490 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $31,740 | −10% | $19,100 | $37,480 | 2,990 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $31,540 | −11% | $28,790 | $38,510 | 3,800 |
| 37 | Georgia | $31,530 | −11% | $25,850 | $39,610 | 4,970 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $31,460 | −11% | $23,760 | $40,110 | 8,820 |
| 39 | Delaware | $31,430 | −11% | $31,200 | $44,730 | 1,010 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $30,670 | −13% | $22,620 | $46,750 | 5,230 |
| 41 | Ohio | $30,440 | −14% | $26,450 | $38,310 | 15,320 |
| 42 | Utah | $30,170 | −15% | $23,120 | $41,600 | 2,430 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $30,170 | −15% | $22,480 | $38,280 | 460 |
| 44 | Iowa | $30,110 | −15% | $27,020 | $36,600 | 5,270 |
| 45 | Texas | $29,300 | −17% | $21,930 | $36,930 | 14,340 |
| 46 | Kansas | $29,040 | −18% | $21,770 | $35,250 | 1,270 |
| 47 | Alabama | $29,000 | −18% | $23,080 | $35,770 | 2,920 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $28,490 | −19% | $23,030 | $37,850 | 1,760 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $27,600 | −22% | $23,920 | $34,430 | 3,540 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $27,250 | −23% | $19,940 | $34,270 | 1,860 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $27,200 | −23% | $18,580 | $32,540 | 2,380 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Food Servers salary questions
Which state pays food servers the most?
New York, with a median of $39,370 a year (+11% vs. the national median of $35,360). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays food servers the least?
Louisiana, with a median of $27,200 a year (−23% vs. national).
Where do most food servers work?
California has the most jobs, about 32,430, with a median of $39,010.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.