How much does a food server make in Champaign?
$34,580a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area. That is $16.63 an hour or $2,882 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.63
- Vs. national median
- -2%
- Rank among cities
- 126 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 330
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $31,200Median: $34,580Highest 10%: $46,000
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,200 | $15.00 | |
| 25th | $31,410 | $15.10 | |
| Median | $34,580 | $16.63 | |
| 75th | $36,610 | $17.60 | |
| 90th | $46,000 | $22.12 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Chicago, IL | $35,670 |
| Springfield, IL | $34,800 |
| St. Louis, MO | $34,340 |
| Decatur, IL | $33,710 |
| Peoria, IL | $33,700 |
| Bloomington, IL | $33,540 |
| Kankakee, IL | $32,430 |
| Davenport, IA | $31,730 |
| Rockford, IL | $31,670 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO | $30,090 |
Related jobs in Champaign
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $48,040 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $38,370 |
| Cook | $38,330 |
| Cook | $36,040 |
| Dishwasher | $33,330 |
| Cook | $32,840 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,850 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $31,300 |
| Bartender | $31,200 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $31,200 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Champaign?
The median hourly pay in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area is $16.63 ($34,580 a year).
Do food servers make more in Champaign than the national average?
No: $34,580 against $35,360 nationally, 2% less.
How does Champaign compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $35,080, so Champaign pays 1% less.
Where does Champaign rank for food server pay?
126 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Champaign?
The lowest-paid 10% make $31,200 or less a year; the top 10% make $46,000 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.