Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Durham, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Median annual salary $35,130 +1.9% vs national
Median hourly $16.89
10th percentile $15,080
90th percentile $39,590
Employed locally 590
National median $34,460

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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
in
Durham, NC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $15,080
    25th
    $25,170
    50th (median)
    $35,130
    75th
    $37,400
    90th
    $39,590

    Durham economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $81,017 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
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $44,710
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $36,180
    Manchester-Nashua, NH $36,010
    Grand Junction, CO $35,120
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $34,420
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $34,250

    Related occupations in Durham, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,580
    Cooks, Fast Food $28,760
    Waiters and Waitresses $29,780
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,500
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $45,100
    Bartenders $31,980

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Durham, NC is $16.89, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.13 or more per hour.

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

    The median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Durham, NC is 1.9% above 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 Durham?

    Entry-level Food Servers, Nonrestaurant (10th percentile) earn around $15,080 per year in Durham, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $25,170.