Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Ohio
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Ohio earn a median of $30,440 a year ($14.63 an hour), based on BLS data for 15,320 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,310 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $35,360. Ohio ranks 41st of 51 states for food servers, nonrestaurant pay. There are 2.8 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $32,470, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Ohio
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,450 | $12.72 |
| 25th percentile | $28,340 | $13.62 |
| Median | $30,440 | $14.63 |
| 75th percentile | $36,110 | $17.36 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,310 | $18.42 |
| Average (mean) | $32,470 | $15.61 |
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 | $2,536.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,268.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,170.77 |
| Weekly | $585.38 |
| Hourly | $14.63 |
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 Ohio
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Mansfield, OH | $34,940 | 100 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $33,540 | 220 |
| Sandusky, OH | $32,710 | 190 |
| Columbus, OH | $32,250 | 2,550 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $32,070 | 3,490 |
| Akron, OH | $31,210 | 920 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $31,200 | 1,150 |
| Cleveland, OH | $30,350 | 3,230 |
| Lima, OH | $30,080 | 130 |
| Toledo, OH | $30,060 | 790 |
| Springfield, OH | $29,360 | 160 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $28,960 | 110 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $28,790 | 400 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $27,890 | 580 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $26,890 | 80 |
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 Ohio
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,430 | $13.67 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,700 | $17.65 |
| Bartender | $30,880 | $14.84 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,340 | $17.95 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,720 | $17.65 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,530 | $16.60 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,550 | $13.25 |
| Dishwasher | $29,520 | $14.19 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,400 | $14.14 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,870 | $12.92 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,290 | $14.08 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $53,990 | $25.96 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $27,540 | $13.24 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Ohio
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 Ohio?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in Ohio is $30,440 a year, or $14.63 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,310 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Ohio?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in Ohio earn at least $38,310 a year. The top 25% earn $36,110 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Ohio?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,450 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $28,340 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Ohio?
About 15,320 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in Ohio, not counting the self-employed.