How much does a food server make in Boston?
$37,330a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area. That is $17.95 an hour or $3,111 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.95
- Vs. national median
- +6%
- Rank among cities
- 38 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 4,370
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $33,970Median: $37,330Highest 10%: $48,110
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $33,970 | $16.33 | |
| 25th | $35,630 | $17.13 | |
| Median | $37,330 | $17.95 | |
| 75th | $39,040 | $18.77 | |
| 90th | $48,110 | $23.13 |
Other cities in Massachusetts
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Barnstable Town, MA | $37,070 |
| Worcester, MA | $35,790 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $35,020 |
| Springfield, MA | $34,970 |
| Providence, RI | $34,870 |
| Amherst Town, MA | $34,830 |
Related jobs in Boston
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $72,470 |
| Cook | $48,530 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $47,090 |
| Cook | $45,830 |
| Cook | $41,600 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,660 |
| Cook | $39,600 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $39,270 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $38,210 |
| Bartender | $37,760 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Boston?
The median hourly pay in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $17.95 ($37,330 a year).
Do food servers make more in Boston than the national average?
Yes: $37,330 against $35,360 nationally, 6% more.
How does Boston compare with the rest of Massachusetts?
The median in Massachusetts is $36,750, so Boston pays 2% more.
Where does Boston rank for food server pay?
38 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% make $33,970 or less a year; the top 10% make $48,110 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.