How much does a food server make in Albany?
$35,550a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area. That is $17.09 an hour or $2,963 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.09
- Vs. national median
- +1%
- Rank among cities
- 90 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 820
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $32,240Median: $35,550Highest 10%: $43,430
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,240 | $15.50 | |
| 25th | $33,560 | $16.13 | |
| Median | $35,550 | $17.09 | |
| 75th | $37,060 | $17.82 | |
| 90th | $43,430 | $20.88 |
Other cities in New York
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Ithaca, NY | $40,240 |
| New York, NY | $39,120 |
| Syracuse, NY | $36,770 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | $36,160 |
| Binghamton, NY | $36,060 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $36,030 |
| Rochester, NY | $35,780 |
| Kingston, NY | $34,980 |
| Utica, NY | $34,430 |
| Buffalo, NY | $34,190 |
Related jobs in Albany
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $84,430 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $48,980 |
| Bartender | $47,370 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $45,330 |
| Cook | $43,550 |
| Cook | $39,610 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $36,460 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,260 |
| Dishwasher | $34,580 |
| Host and Hostess | $34,560 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Albany?
The median hourly pay in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area is $17.09 ($35,550 a year).
Do food servers make more in Albany than the national average?
Yes: $35,550 against $35,360 nationally, 1% more.
How does Albany compare with the rest of New York?
The median in New York is $39,370, so Albany pays 10% less.
Where does Albany rank for food server pay?
90 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Albany?
The lowest-paid 10% make $32,240 or less a year; the top 10% make $43,430 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.