How much does a food server make in Chico?
$37,400a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Chico, CA metro area. That is $17.98 an hour or $3,117 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.98
- Vs. national median
- +6%
- Rank among cities
- 36 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 130
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $34,620Median: $37,400Highest 10%: $45,480
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,620 | $16.64 | |
| 25th | $34,980 | $16.82 | |
| Median | $37,400 | $17.98 | |
| 75th | $43,970 | $21.14 | |
| 90th | $45,480 | $21.87 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| San Jose, CA | $46,210 |
| Hanford, CA | $45,030 |
| San Francisco, CA | $44,710 |
| Napa, CA | $41,850 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $40,180 |
| Vallejo, CA | $38,910 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $38,740 |
| Salinas, CA | $38,660 |
| Sacramento, CA | $38,460 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $38,350 |
| San Diego, CA | $38,260 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $38,150 |
| Modesto, CA | $38,010 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $37,860 |
| Yuba City, CA | $37,660 |
| Oxnard, CA | $37,480 |
| Stockton, CA | $37,380 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $37,140 |
| Riverside, CA | $37,120 |
| Fresno, CA | $36,770 |
| Redding, CA | $35,740 |
| Visalia, CA | $35,680 |
| El Centro, CA | $35,590 |
Related jobs in Chico
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $55,990 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $45,900 |
| Cook | $41,380 |
| Cook | $40,340 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $38,210 |
| Cook | $37,980 |
| Cook | $37,700 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $37,510 |
| Host and Hostess | $35,170 |
| Dishwasher | $35,150 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Chico?
The median hourly pay in the Chico, CA metro area is $17.98 ($37,400 a year).
Do food servers make more in Chico than the national average?
Yes: $37,400 against $35,360 nationally, 6% more.
How does Chico compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $39,010, so Chico pays 4% less.
Where does Chico rank for food server pay?
36 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Chico?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,620 or less a year; the top 10% make $45,480 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.