Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Merced, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Merced, CA

Median annual salary $35,360 +2.6% vs national
Median hourly $17.00
10th percentile $33,340
90th percentile $48,810
Employed locally 100
National median $34,460

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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
in
Merced, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $33,340
    25th
    $34,680
    50th (median)
    $35,360
    75th
    $48,810
    90th
    $48,810

    Merced economic context

    Unemployment rate 9.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $65,044 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary vs area income 54% Median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary is 46% 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
    Hanford-Corcoran, CA $45,030
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $44,710
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $44,200
    Ithaca, NY $40,230
    Napa, CA $39,150
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $38,140

    Related occupations in Merced, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $36,440
    Cooks, Fast Food $35,960
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $45,280
    Waiters and Waitresses $33,420
    Cooks, Restaurant $37,740
    Food Preparation Workers $35,140

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Merced, CA is $17.00, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.47 or more per hour.

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

    The median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Merced, CA is 2.6% 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 Merced?

    Entry-level Food Servers, Nonrestaurant (10th percentile) earn around $33,340 per year in Merced, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $34,680.