Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Washington
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Washington earn a median of $38,870 a year ($18.69 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,050 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,910 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $35,360. Washington ranks 4th of 51 states for food servers, nonrestaurant pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 2.3 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,000, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,050 | $16.85 |
| 25th percentile | $36,760 | $17.67 |
| Median | $38,870 | $18.69 |
| 75th percentile | $45,790 | $22.02 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,910 | $24.47 |
| Average (mean) | $42,000 | $20.19 |
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 | $3,239.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,619.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,495 |
| Weekly | $747.50 |
| Hourly | $18.69 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $40,640 | 4,800 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $37,860 | 210 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $37,540 | 220 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $37,230 | 260 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $37,230 | 2,720 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $37,140 | 60 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $36,520 | 150 |
| Bellingham, WA | $36,450 | 200 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $36,190 | 790 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $36,170 | 90 |
| Yakima, WA | $36,070 | 230 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $35,580 | 90 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $37,710 | $18.13 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $56,130 | $26.98 |
| Bartender | $55,830 | $26.84 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $46,800 | $22.50 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $59,400 | $28.56 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $40,910 | $19.67 |
| Dishwasher | $40,080 | $19.27 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $49,670 | $23.88 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $37,270 | $17.92 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $39,120 | $18.81 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $41,420 | $19.91 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $76,010 | $36.54 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,760 | $20.56 |
| Cooks, All Other | $52,510 | $25.25 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in Washington is $38,870 a year, or $18.69 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,910 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Washington?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in Washington earn at least $50,910 a year. The top 25% earn $45,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,050 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $36,760 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Washington?
About 8,050 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.