Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in New York, NY-NJ

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

Median annual salary $37,950 +10.1% vs national
Median hourly $18.25
10th percentile $32,770
90th percentile $50,270
Employed locally 16,140
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
    $32,770
    25th
    $35,190
    50th (median)
    $37,950
    75th
    $45,840
    90th
    $50,270

    New York economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $97,334 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary vs area income 39% Median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary is 61% 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $44,200
    Ithaca, NY $40,230
    Watertown-Fort Drum, NY $36,050
    Albany, OR $35,950
    Binghamton, NY $35,930
    Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $35,370

    Related occupations in New York, NY-NJ

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $35,420
    Waiters and Waitresses $45,010
    Cooks, Restaurant $41,980
    Food Preparation Workers $36,330
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $48,540
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $37,250

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in New York, NY-NJ is $18.25, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $25.04 or more per hour.

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

    The median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in New York, NY-NJ is 10.1% 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 New York?

    Entry-level Food Servers, Nonrestaurant (10th percentile) earn around $32,770 per year in New York, NY-NJ. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,190.