Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Columbia, MO

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Columbia, MO

Median annual salary $31,760 -7.8% vs national
Median hourly $15.27
10th percentile $28,290
90th percentile $38,290
Employed locally 240
National median $34,460

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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
in
Columbia, MO
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $28,290
    25th
    $30,040
    50th (median)
    $31,760
    75th
    $34,090
    90th
    $38,290

    Columbia economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,463 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary vs area income 46% Median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary is 54% 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
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $44,710
    North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $37,360
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $36,190
    Vermont $36,040
    Modesto, CA $35,890
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $35,850

    Related occupations in Columbia, MO

    OccupationMedian salary
    Waiters and Waitresses $25,950
    Cooks, Fast Food $28,200
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,090
    Cooks, Restaurant $33,850
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $36,850
    Bartenders $25,580

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Columbia, MO is $15.27, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $19.01 or more per hour.

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

    The median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Columbia, MO is 7.8% 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 Columbia?

    Entry-level Food Servers, Nonrestaurant (10th percentile) earn around $28,290 per year in Columbia, MO. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $30,040.