Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in El Centro, CA
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the El Centro, CA metro area earn a median of $35,590 a year ($17.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,600 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $35,360. Pay here is 9% lower than the California statewide median of $39,010. There are 0.72 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.38). The average (mean) salary is $37,650, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in El Centro, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| 25th percentile | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Median | $35,590 | $17.11 |
| 75th percentile | $42,220 | $20.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,600 | $20.48 |
| Average (mean) | $37,650 | $18.10 |
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 | $2,965.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,482.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,368.85 |
| Weekly | $684.42 |
| Hourly | $17.11 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $46,210 | 1,960 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $45,030 | 50 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $44,710 | 4,160 |
| Napa, CA | $41,850 | 240 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $40,180 | 520 |
| Vallejo, CA | $38,910 | 300 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $38,740 | 450 |
| Salinas, CA | $38,660 | 400 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $38,460 | 1,980 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $38,350 | 11,850 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $38,260 | 3,400 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $38,150 | 310 |
| Modesto, CA | $38,010 | 360 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $37,860 | 170 |
| Yuba City, CA | $37,660 | 60 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $37,480 | 700 |
| Chico, CA | $37,400 | 130 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $37,380 | 500 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $37,140 | 490 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $37,120 | 2,290 |
| Fresno, CA | $36,770 | 830 |
| Redding, CA | $35,740 | 170 |
| Visalia, CA | $35,680 | 270 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in El Centro, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $38,840 | $18.68 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Bartender | $34,620 | $16.64 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,600 | $21.92 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,710 | $18.13 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $40,230 | $19.34 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,610 | $18.56 |
| Dishwasher | $34,990 | $16.82 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $40,980 | $19.70 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in El Centro, CA
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 El Centro, CA?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in the El Centro, CA metro area is $35,590 a year, or $17.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,600 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in El Centro, CA?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in the El Centro, CA metro area earn at least $42,600 a year. The top 25% earn $42,220 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in El Centro, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,320 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $34,320 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in El Centro, CA?
About 50 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the El Centro, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.