Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Chattanooga, TN-GA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chattanooga, TN-GA

Median annual salary $28,220 -18.1% vs national
Median hourly $13.57
10th percentile $17,500
90th percentile $35,730
Employed locally 360
National median $34,460

Compare Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary & buying power

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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $17,500
    25th
    $23,820
    50th (median)
    $28,220
    75th
    $30,930
    90th
    $35,730

    Chattanooga economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $68,666 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary vs area income 41% Median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary is 59% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $57,540
    Hanford-Corcoran, CA $45,030
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $44,710
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $44,200
    Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area $42,600
    Ithaca, NY $40,230

    Nearby metros — Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $31,480
    Memphis, TN-MS-AR $28,890
    Jackson, TN $28,850
    Knoxville, TN $28,450
    Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $27,960
    Clarksville, TN-KY $23,870

    Related occupations in Chattanooga, TN-GA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,160
    Waiters and Waitresses $26,210
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,220
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $36,820
    Food Preparation Workers $27,360
    Cooks, Fast Food $26,680

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Food Servers, Nonrestaurant make per hour in Chattanooga?

    The median hourly wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Chattanooga, TN-GA is $13.57, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.57 or more per hour.

    Is Chattanooga above or below average for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salaries?

    The median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Chattanooga, TN-GA is 18.1% below the national median of $34,460. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Chattanooga?

    Entry-level Food Servers, Nonrestaurant (10th percentile) earn around $17,500 per year in Chattanooga, TN-GA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $23,820.