Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Cleveland, OH

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Cleveland, OH

Median annual salary $29,570 -14.2% vs national
Median hourly $14.22
10th percentile $24,390
90th percentile $37,140
Employed locally 2,260
National median $34,460

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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
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Cleveland, OH
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $24,390
    25th
    $27,820
    50th (median)
    $29,570
    75th
    $34,950
    90th
    $37,140

    Cleveland economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $68,507 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary vs area income 43% Median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary is 57% 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
    Mansfield, OH $37,220
    Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $31,910
    Sandusky, OH $31,680
    Columbus, OH $30,580
    Akron, OH $30,170
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $29,650

    Related occupations in Cleveland, OH

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,240
    Waiters and Waitresses $35,710
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,730
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,180
    Bartenders $30,190
    Food Preparation Workers $32,140

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Cleveland, OH is $14.22, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $18.44 or more per hour.

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

    The median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Cleveland, OH is 14.2% 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 Cleveland?

    Entry-level Food Servers, Nonrestaurant (10th percentile) earn around $24,390 per year in Cleveland, OH. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $27,820.