Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Boulder, CO
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Boulder, CO metro area earn a median of $38,930 a year ($18.72 an hour), based on BLS data for 650 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,800 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $35,360. Pay here is about the same as the Colorado statewide median of $38,900. There are 3.4 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $40,760, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Boulder, CO
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,810 | $15.29 |
| 25th percentile | $37,170 | $17.87 |
| Median | $38,930 | $18.72 |
| 75th percentile | $44,840 | $21.56 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,800 | $22.50 |
| Average (mean) | $40,760 | $19.59 |
Half of food servers, nonrestaurant earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,244.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,622.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,497.31 |
| Weekly | $748.65 |
| Hourly | $18.72 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $39,850 | 4,570 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $37,080 | 430 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $36,900 | 200 |
| Pueblo, CO | $36,860 | 140 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $36,690 | 770 |
| Greeley, CO | $36,570 | 180 |
Highest-paying states for food servers, nonrestaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 |
| California | $39,010 |
| Colorado | $38,900 |
| Washington | $38,870 |
| Alaska | $38,090 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 |
| Maine | $37,680 |
| Vermont | $37,540 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 |
See Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in every state or the Colorado statewide figures.
Related jobs in Boulder, CO
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $36,190 | $17.40 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $49,870 | $23.97 |
| Bartender | $42,520 | $20.44 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $42,220 | $20.30 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $52,020 | $25.01 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $48,020 | $23.09 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $37,460 | $18.01 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,690 | $19.08 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $36,250 | $17.43 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $38,220 | $18.38 |
| Dishwasher | $37,750 | $18.15 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,740 | $29.68 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $39,270 | $18.88 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Boulder, CO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food servers, nonrestaurant make in Boulder, CO?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in the Boulder, CO metro area is $38,930 a year, or $18.72 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,800 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Boulder, CO?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in the Boulder, CO metro area earn at least $46,800 a year. The top 25% earn $44,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Boulder, CO?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,810 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $37,170 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Boulder, CO?
About 650 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the Boulder, CO metro area, not counting the self-employed.