Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
SOC 35-3041 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant is $33,110, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $33,840, and an estimated 267,840 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +27.8% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of +8.5% after inflation. BLS projects employment will grow 3% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $33,110 | $33,110 | 267,840 |
| 2022 | $30,300 | $31,547 | 248,870 |
| 2021 | $28,730 | $32,306 | 243,030 |
| 2020 | $25,910 | $30,504 | 254,650 |
Nominal change
+27.8%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
+8.5%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+3%
Faster than average
Employment 2024
277,200
Projected 2034
285,300
Annual Openings
48,000
Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Food Servers, Nonrestaurant earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $33,110. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $38,210 | +15.4% | 210 |
| District of Columbia | $37,280 | +12.6% | 600 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $37,230 | +12.4% | 190 |
| New York | $36,910 | +11.5% | 18,270 |
| California | $36,790 | +11.1% | 30,520 |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $36,640 | +10.7% | 150 |
| Colorado | $36,420 | +10% | 6,760 |
| Washington | $36,370 | +9.8% | 7,380 |
| West Central-Southwest New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $35,960 | +8.6% | 260 |
| Massachusetts | $35,770 | +8% | 6,220 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$24,480
25th Pct
$28,640
Median
$33,110
75th Pct
$36,780
90th Pct
$43,740
Related Occupations in Food Preparation & Serving
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.
All Food Preparation & Serving occupations →