Food Service Salaries

Salary data for 17+ food service careers. Median pay, entry-level to senior ranges, and affordability context for every state and metro area. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Fast Food and Counter WorkersFood Service

Median: $31K$23K, $43K

3,854,050 employed nationally

Waiters and WaitressesFood Service

Median: $35K$18K, $65K

2,270,910 employed nationally

Cooks, RestaurantFood Service

Median: $37K$29K, $48K

1,409,890 employed nationally

First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersFood Service

Median: $44K$30K, $66K

1,223,240 employed nationally

Food Preparation WorkersFood Service

Median: $35K$26K, $45K

893,600 employed nationally

BartendersFood Service

Median: $34K$20K, $74K

756,390 employed nationally

Cooks, Fast FoodFood Service

Median: $31K$23K, $43K

641,070 employed nationally

Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersFood Service

Median: $34K$21K, $47K

542,750 employed nationally

DishwashersFood Service

Median: $35K$26K, $43K

477,450 employed nationally

Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaFood Service

Median: $37K$28K, $50K

441,050 employed nationally

Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopFood Service

Median: $31K$22K, $44K

432,690 employed nationally

Food Servers, NonrestaurantFood Service

Median: $35K$28K, $46K

293,900 employed nationally

Chefs and Head CooksFood Service

Median: $62K$38K, $99K

200,040 employed nationally

Cooks, Short OrderFood Service

Median: $36K$23K, $46K

138,650 employed nationally

Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All OtherFood Service

Median: $36K$25K, $48K

84,630 employed nationally

Cooks, All OtherFood Service

Median: $38K$27K, $51K

19,350 employed nationally

Cooks, Private HouseholdFood Service

Median: $48K$36K, $91K

1,100 employed nationally