Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Colorado
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Colorado earn a median of $38,900 a year ($18.70 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,750 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,440 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $35,360. Colorado ranks 3rd of 51 states for food servers, nonrestaurant pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 2.7 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $40,920, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Colorado
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,860 | $15.32 |
| 25th percentile | $35,990 | $17.30 |
| Median | $38,900 | $18.70 |
| 75th percentile | $45,850 | $22.04 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,440 | $24.73 |
| Average (mean) | $40,920 | $19.67 |
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 | $3,241.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,620.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,496.15 |
| Weekly | $748.08 |
| Hourly | $18.70 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in cities in Colorado
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $39,850 | 4,570 |
| Boulder, CO | $38,930 | 650 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Colorado
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $36,270 | $17.44 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $44,860 | $21.57 |
| Bartender | $38,170 | $18.35 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $50,550 | $24.30 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,960 | $18.73 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,340 | $17.47 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $42,500 | $20.43 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $36,900 | $17.74 |
| Dishwasher | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,790 | $17.69 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $65,400 | $31.44 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,710 | $17.17 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,450 | $20.41 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Colorado
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 Colorado?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in Colorado is $38,900 a year, or $18.70 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Colorado?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in Colorado earn at least $51,440 a year. The top 25% earn $45,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Colorado?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,860 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $35,990 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Colorado?
About 7,750 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in Colorado, not counting the self-employed.