Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Michigan
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Michigan earn a median of $34,260 a year ($16.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,700 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,180 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $35,360. Michigan ranks 25th of 51 states for food servers, nonrestaurant pay. There are 1.7 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $33,930, close to the median.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Michigan
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,730 | $13.81 |
| 25th percentile | $30,200 | $14.52 |
| Median | $34,260 | $16.47 |
| 75th percentile | $36,770 | $17.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,180 | $18.36 |
| Average (mean) | $33,930 | $16.31 |
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 | $2,855 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,427.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,317.69 |
| Weekly | $658.85 |
| Hourly | $16.47 |
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 Michigan
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Saginaw, MI | $37,030 | 290 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $36,710 | 270 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $36,250 | 180 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $35,170 | 3,210 |
| Traverse City, MI | $35,070 | 140 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $34,880 | 280 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $34,700 | 430 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $34,170 | 360 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $32,770 | 1,160 |
| Bay City, MI | $32,370 | 70 |
| Niles, MI | $31,840 | 110 |
| Jackson, MI | $30,090 | 80 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $29,800 | 210 |
| Flint, MI | $29,710 | 170 |
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 Michigan
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,930 | $13.91 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $37,760 | $18.16 |
| Bartender | $36,780 | $17.68 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,980 | $17.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,940 | $18.24 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,180 | $14.99 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,460 | $14.17 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,870 | $17.72 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,390 | $14.61 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,950 | $13.92 |
| Dishwasher | $31,300 | $15.05 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,070 | $28.88 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,510 | $16.59 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,100 | $16.88 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Michigan
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 Michigan?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in Michigan is $34,260 a year, or $16.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Michigan?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in Michigan earn at least $38,180 a year. The top 25% earn $36,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Michigan?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,730 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $30,200 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Michigan?
About 7,700 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in Michigan, not counting the self-employed.