Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Santa Cruz, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

Median annual salary $36,860 +7% vs national
Median hourly $17.72
10th percentile $35,100
90th percentile $45,030
Employed locally 170
National median $34,460

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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
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Santa Cruz, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,100
    25th
    $36,270
    50th (median)
    $36,860
    75th
    $42,070
    90th
    $45,030

    Santa Cruz economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $109,266 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary vs area income 34% Median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary is 66% 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 Santa Cruz, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $37,300
    Waiters and Waitresses $35,270
    Cooks, Restaurant $42,460
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $46,980
    Cooks, Fast Food $37,670
    Food Preparation Workers $37,010

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Santa Cruz, CA is $17.72, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $24.31 or more per hour.

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

    The median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Santa Cruz, CA is 7% 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 Santa Cruz?

    Entry-level Food Servers, Nonrestaurant (10th percentile) earn around $35,100 per year in Santa Cruz, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,270.