Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Kentucky
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Kentucky earn a median of $32,200 a year ($15.48 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,660 workers.
Pay ranges from $25,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,060 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $35,360. Kentucky ranks 30th of 51 states for food servers, nonrestaurant pay. There are 1.8 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $32,750, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,790 | $12.40 |
| 25th percentile | $28,150 | $13.53 |
| Median | $32,200 | $15.48 |
| 75th percentile | $36,850 | $17.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,060 | $20.22 |
| Average (mean) | $32,750 | $15.75 |
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 | $2,683.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,341.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,238.46 |
| Weekly | $619.23 |
| Hourly | $15.48 |
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 Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green, KY | $34,040 | 110 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $33,540 | 220 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $32,070 | 3,490 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $31,780 | 1,690 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $30,430 | 400 |
| Owensboro, KY | $29,600 | 70 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $27,510 | 120 |
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 Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,130 | $13.04 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,660 | $14.26 |
| Bartender | $28,780 | $13.84 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,500 | $11.30 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $35,810 | $17.21 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $26,850 | $12.91 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,640 | $16.65 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,550 | $15.17 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,100 | $13.03 |
| Dishwasher | $29,060 | $13.97 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,330 | $12.66 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,840 | $15.31 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in Kentucky is $32,200 a year, or $15.48 an hour. Pay ranges from $25,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in Kentucky earn at least $42,060 a year. The top 25% earn $36,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $25,790 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $28,150 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Kentucky?
About 3,660 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.