Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Rochester, NY
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Rochester, NY metro area earn a median of $35,780 a year ($17.20 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,300 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,930 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $35,360. Pay here is 9% lower than the New York statewide median of $39,370. There are 2.6 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $36,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Rochester, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,240 | $15.50 |
| 25th percentile | $33,610 | $16.16 |
| Median | $35,780 | $17.20 |
| 75th percentile | $38,190 | $18.36 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,930 | $21.12 |
| Average (mean) | $36,830 | $17.71 |
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 | $2,981.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,490.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,376.15 |
| Weekly | $688.08 |
| Hourly | $17.20 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $35,780 salary, see how much house you can afford in New York 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in every state or the New York statewide figures.
Related jobs in Rochester, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,430 | $16.07 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $45,310 | $21.78 |
| Bartender | $45,920 | $22.08 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,040 | $20.69 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,380 | $18.45 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,020 | $16.84 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,310 | $16.98 |
| Dishwasher | $33,880 | $16.29 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,580 | $17.59 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $33,750 | $16.22 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,380 | $16.05 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,080 | $31.77 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Rochester, NY
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 Rochester, NY?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in the Rochester, NY metro area is $35,780 a year, or $17.20 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,930 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Rochester, NY?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in the Rochester, NY metro area earn at least $43,930 a year. The top 25% earn $38,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Rochester, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,240 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $33,610 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Rochester, NY?
About 1,300 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the Rochester, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.