Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median of $31,080 a year ($14.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 820 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,560 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $35,360. Pay here is 1% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $30,670. There are 1.3 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.71). The average (mean) salary is $32,430, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,270 | $11.19 |
| 25th percentile | $28,130 | $13.52 |
| Median | $31,080 | $14.94 |
| 75th percentile | $34,570 | $16.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,560 | $22.39 |
| Average (mean) | $32,430 | $15.59 |
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 | $2,590 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,295 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,195.38 |
| Weekly | $597.69 |
| Hourly | $14.94 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $31,080 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $33,830 | 2,240 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $30,740 | 350 |
| Cleveland, TN | $30,640 | 40 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $29,200 | 850 |
| Knoxville, TN | $29,100 | 620 |
| Jackson, MS | $28,940 | 240 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $28,750 | 260 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $28,430 | 140 |
| Jackson, TN | $27,950 | 100 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $27,740 | 130 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $27,600 | 230 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $27,510 | 120 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $27,490 | 1,000 |
| Johnson City, TN | $27,050 | 110 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $27,040 | 210 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | $25,970 | 70 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $24,770 | 70 |
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 Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,490 | $13.21 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $24,550 | $11.80 |
| Bartender | $28,710 | $13.80 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,620 | $19.05 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,340 | $17.47 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,290 | $13.12 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,230 | $13.09 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,740 | $16.70 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,610 | $13.27 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $33,170 | $15.95 |
| Dishwasher | $29,700 | $14.28 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,880 | $14.37 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,230 | $31.84 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $38,530 | $18.52 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $31,080 a year, or $14.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn at least $46,560 a year. The top 25% earn $34,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,270 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $28,130 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
About 820 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area, not counting the self-employed.