Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Florida
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Florida earn a median of $33,930 a year ($16.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 19,240 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,000 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $35,360. Florida ranks 27th of 51 states for food servers, nonrestaurant pay. There are 1.9 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $34,530, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Florida
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,210 | $14.04 |
| 25th percentile | $30,510 | $14.67 |
| Median | $33,930 | $16.31 |
| 75th percentile | $36,200 | $17.41 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,000 | $18.75 |
| Average (mean) | $34,530 | $16.60 |
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 | $2,827.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,413.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,305 |
| Weekly | $652.50 |
| Hourly | $16.31 |
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 Florida
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $35,310 | 630 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $34,950 | 4,980 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $34,800 | 670 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $34,480 | 2,470 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $34,410 | 1,150 |
| Gainesville, FL | $34,310 | 230 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $34,060 | 170 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $33,970 | 990 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $33,970 | 360 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $33,670 | 400 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $33,550 | 340 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $32,170 | 4,300 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $31,840 | 320 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $31,710 | 380 |
| Ocala, FL | $31,280 | 220 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $30,650 | 220 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $29,770 | 250 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $29,500 | 100 |
| Sebring, FL | $29,470 | 40 |
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 Florida
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,080 | $13.98 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,150 | $17.38 |
| Bartender | $35,150 | $16.90 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,470 | $21.38 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,920 | $17.27 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $33,280 | $16.00 |
| Dishwasher | $31,240 | $15.02 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,810 | $14.33 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,250 | $17.43 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,900 | $14.37 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $58,240 | $28.00 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,240 | $16.46 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $34,200 | $16.44 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Florida
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 Florida?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in Florida is $33,930 a year, or $16.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Florida?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in Florida earn at least $39,000 a year. The top 25% earn $36,200 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Florida?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,210 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $30,510 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Florida?
About 19,240 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in Florida, not counting the self-employed.