Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
Food Servers, Nonrestaurants in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ make a median of $37,950 a year, or about $18.25 an hour. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $50K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 112.56), so that salary is closer to $33,715 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,910/month — about 111.1% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $38K get you in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
About food servers, nonrestaurants
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
Entry-level food servers, nonrestaurants (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K.Top earners bring in $50K or more - a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $38K | +10% | 14,690 |
| Washington | $38K | +10% | 7,300 |
| California | $38K | +9% | 29,570 |
| District of Columbia | $38K | +9% | 1,230 |
| Hawaii | $37K | +9% | 750 |
| Massachusetts | $37K | +6% | 6,120 |
| New Hampshire | $36K | +5% | 2,230 |
| Vermont | $36K | +5% | 710 |
| Oregon | $36K | +5% | 3,860 |
| Connecticut | $36K | +4% | 4,510 |
| North Dakota | $36K | +4% | 1,710 |
| New Jersey | $35K | +2% | 10,760 |
| Minnesota | $35K | +2% | 10,150 |
| Maine | $35K | +2% | 660 |
| Arizona | $35K | +2% | 3,840 |
Track food servers, nonrestaurant salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New York-Newark-Jersey City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do food servers, nonrestaurants make in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?
The median is $37,950 a year - that works out to about $18.25 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,770, and experienced food servers, nonrestaurants can clear $50,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,587/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,910/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 112.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb - housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a food servers, nonrestaurant salary go in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
New York-Newark-Jersey City has a Regional Price Parity of 112.56 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median food servers, nonrestaurant salary is worth about $33,715 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do food servers, nonrestaurants get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.