Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Columbia, MO
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Columbia, MO metro area earn a median of $32,800 a year ($15.77 an hour), based on BLS data for 330 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,540 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $35,360. Pay here is 3% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $31,840. There are 3.0 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $32,950, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Columbia, MO
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,670 | $13.78 |
| 25th percentile | $29,640 | $14.25 |
| Median | $32,800 | $15.77 |
| 75th percentile | $35,260 | $16.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,540 | $19.01 |
| Average (mean) | $32,950 | $15.84 |
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 | $2,733.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,366.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,261.54 |
| Weekly | $630.77 |
| Hourly | $15.77 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $34,340 | 3,250 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $33,620 | 2,260 |
| Springfield, MO | $31,130 | 410 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $30,370 | 200 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $30,210 | 150 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $30,210 | 130 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $30,090 | 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 Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, MO
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,250 | $14.06 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,390 | $14.13 |
| Bartender | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,110 | $13.99 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,240 | $16.94 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,060 | $18.30 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $33,900 | $16.30 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,710 | $14.28 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,860 | $14.35 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Dishwasher | $30,780 | $14.80 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $52,870 | $25.42 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,260 | $16.95 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Columbia, MO
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 Columbia, MO?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in the Columbia, MO metro area is $32,800 a year, or $15.77 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Columbia, MO?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in the Columbia, MO metro area earn at least $39,540 a year. The top 25% earn $35,260 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Columbia, MO?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,670 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $29,640 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Columbia, MO?
About 330 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the Columbia, MO metro area, not counting the self-employed.