Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median of $39,850 a year ($19.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,570 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,440 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $35,360. Pay here is 2% higher than the Colorado statewide median of $38,900. There are 2.8 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $41,800, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,910 | $15.34 |
| 25th percentile | $37,340 | $17.95 |
| Median | $39,850 | $19.16 |
| 75th percentile | $46,600 | $22.40 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,440 | $24.73 |
| Average (mean) | $41,800 | $20.10 |
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 | $3,320.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,660.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,532.69 |
| Weekly | $766.35 |
| Hourly | $19.16 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $39,850 salary, see how much house you can afford in Colorado at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
See Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in every state or the Colorado statewide figures.
Related jobs in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $37,070 | $17.82 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $39,650 | $19.06 |
| Bartender | $37,180 | $17.88 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,370 | $21.33 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $52,520 | $25.25 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,470 | $18.98 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,340 | $17.47 |
| Dishwasher | $38,710 | $18.61 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $45,070 | $21.67 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,880 | $17.73 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $38,530 | $18.53 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,970 | $32.20 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,770 | $17.20 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $44,200 | $21.25 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $39,850 a year, or $19.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn at least $51,440 a year. The top 25% earn $46,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,910 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $37,340 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
About 4,570 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area, not counting the self-employed.