Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Columbus, OH
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Columbus, OH metro area earn a median of $32,250 a year ($15.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,550 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,880 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $35,360. Pay here is 6% higher than the Ohio statewide median of $30,440. There are 2.3 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $33,870, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Columbus, OH
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,040 | $13.00 |
| 25th percentile | $29,310 | $14.09 |
| Median | $32,250 | $15.50 |
| 75th percentile | $37,510 | $18.04 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,880 | $19.17 |
| Average (mean) | $33,870 | $16.28 |
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 | $2,687.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,343.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,240.38 |
| Weekly | $620.19 |
| Hourly | $15.50 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mansfield, OH | $34,940 | 100 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $33,540 | 220 |
| Sandusky, OH | $32,710 | 190 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $32,070 | 3,490 |
| Akron, OH | $31,210 | 920 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $31,200 | 1,150 |
| Cleveland, OH | $30,350 | 3,230 |
| Lima, OH | $30,080 | 130 |
| Toledo, OH | $30,060 | 790 |
| Springfield, OH | $29,360 | 160 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $28,960 | 110 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $28,790 | 400 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $27,890 | 580 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $26,890 | 80 |
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 Ohio statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbus, OH
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,670 | $13.78 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $37,490 | $18.03 |
| Bartender | $37,000 | $17.79 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,790 | $18.17 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,590 | $17.59 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,100 | $18.32 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,930 | $17.75 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,650 | $13.29 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,000 | $14.42 |
| Dishwasher | $33,690 | $16.20 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $25,290 | $12.16 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,200 | $16.92 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $27,080 | $13.02 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $59,830 | $28.77 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Columbus, OH
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 Columbus, OH?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in the Columbus, OH metro area is $32,250 a year, or $15.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Columbus, OH?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in the Columbus, OH metro area earn at least $39,880 a year. The top 25% earn $37,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Columbus, OH?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,040 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $29,310 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Columbus, OH?
About 2,550 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the Columbus, OH metro area, not counting the self-employed.