The average wage for a food server in California is around $14.55 per hour.
Avg Wage
Food servers earn an average hourly wage of $14.55.
Salaries typically start from $14.00 per hour and go up to $23.23 per hour.
54% below national average Updated in 2021
Food server earnings by seniority
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Food server salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $36,640 |
| Arizona | $36,330 |
| District of Columbia | $34,880 |
| Massachusetts | $33,840 |
| Maine | $30,860 |
| California | $30,270 |
| New York | $30,250 |
| Oregon | $28,900 |
| New Jersey | $28,800 |
| Michigan | $28,700 |
| Vermont | $28,690 |
| Connecticut | $28,560 |
| Hawaii | $28,380 |
| Colorado | $27,370 |
| Rhode Island | $26,120 |
| Minnesota | $25,920 |
| New Hampshire | $25,460 |
| Maryland | $25,000 |
| Alaska | $24,070 |
| Virginia | $23,930 |
| Pennsylvania | $23,690 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $23,440 |
| South Dakota | $23,040 |
| Delaware | $22,920 |
| Arkansas | $22,880 |
| Illinois | $22,880 |
| North Dakota | $22,730 |
| Missouri | $22,590 |
| Utah | $22,460 |
| Florida | $22,290 |
| Indiana | $22,040 |
| West Virginia | $22,010 |
| New Mexico | $21,840 |
| Wisconsin | $21,470 |
| Nebraska | $21,340 |
| Nevada | $21,240 |
| Iowa | $21,100 |
| Texas | $20,880 |
| Ohio | $20,530 |
| Montana | $20,200 |
| Idaho | $19,910 |
| Guam | $19,650 |
| Kentucky | $18,840 |
| Wyoming | $18,840 |
| Kansas | $18,780 |
| Oklahoma | $18,670 |
| Georgia | $18,520 |
| North Carolina | $18,480 |
| Louisiana | $18,270 |
| South Carolina | $18,240 |
| Tennessee | $18,230 |
| Alabama | $18,120 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,090 |
| Mississippi | $17,730 |
How do food server salaries compare to similar careers?
Food servers earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than receptionists but more than vehicle cleaners.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Receptionist salary | $36K |
| Janitor salary | $35K |
| Baker salary | $36K |
| Food batchmaker salary | $35K |
| Retail salesperson salary | $31K |
| Food server salary | $30K |
| Lifeguard salary | $35K |
| Recreation worker salary | $31K |
| Food preparation worker salary | $32K |
| Vehicle cleaner salary | $30K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)