Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in New York
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in New York earn a median of $39,370 a year ($18.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 17,520 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,630 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $35,360. New York ranks 1st of 51 states for food servers, nonrestaurant pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 1.8 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $42,560, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in New York
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,110 | $15.92 |
| 25th percentile | $35,660 | $17.14 |
| Median | $39,370 | $18.93 |
| 75th percentile | $48,740 | $23.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $52,630 | $25.30 |
| Average (mean) | $42,560 | $20.46 |
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 | $3,280.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,640.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,514.23 |
| Weekly | $757.12 |
| Hourly | $18.93 |
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 New York
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Ithaca, NY | $40,240 | 120 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $39,120 | 19,450 |
| Syracuse, NY | $36,770 | 540 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $36,160 | 540 |
| Binghamton, NY | $36,060 | 260 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $36,030 | 130 |
| Rochester, NY | $35,780 | 1,300 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $35,550 | 820 |
| Kingston, NY | $34,980 | 100 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $34,430 | 470 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $34,190 | 1,380 |
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 New York
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $35,250 | $16.95 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $47,020 | $22.61 |
| Bartender | $61,210 | $29.43 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $47,190 | $22.69 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,610 | $17.12 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,740 | $17.66 |
| Dishwasher | $35,450 | $17.04 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,490 | $17.54 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,550 | $17.09 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $45,880 | $22.06 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $70,670 | $33.98 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,770 | $17.20 |
| Cooks, All Other | $43,000 | $20.67 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in New York
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 New York?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in New York is $39,370 a year, or $18.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in New York?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in New York earn at least $52,630 a year. The top 25% earn $48,740 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in New York?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,110 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $35,660 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in New York?
About 17,520 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in New York, not counting the self-employed.