How much does a food server make in Cleveland?
$30,350a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Cleveland, OH metro area. That is $14.59 an hour or $2,529 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.59
- Vs. national median
- -14%
- Rank among cities
- 250 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 3,230
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $24,830Median: $30,350Highest 10%: $38,350
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $24,830 | $11.94 | |
| 25th | $28,380 | $13.64 | |
| Median | $30,350 | $14.59 | |
| 75th | $36,370 | $17.49 | |
| 90th | $38,350 | $18.44 |
Other cities in Ohio
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Mansfield, OH | $34,940 |
| Huntington, WV | $33,540 |
| Sandusky, OH | $32,710 |
| Columbus, OH | $32,250 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $32,070 |
| Akron, OH | $31,210 |
| Dayton, OH | $31,200 |
| Lima, OH | $30,080 |
| Toledo, OH | $30,060 |
| Springfield, OH | $29,360 |
| Weirton, WV | $28,960 |
| Canton, OH | $28,790 |
| Youngstown, OH | $27,890 |
| Wheeling, WV | $26,890 |
Related jobs in Cleveland
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $57,020 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $37,700 |
| Cook | $37,060 |
| Cook | $36,930 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $36,260 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,360 |
| Bartender | $33,470 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $29,400 |
| Dishwasher | $29,360 |
| Cook | $29,120 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Cleveland?
The median hourly pay in the Cleveland, OH metro area is $14.59 ($30,350 a year).
Do food servers make more in Cleveland than the national average?
No: $30,350 against $35,360 nationally, 14% less.
How does Cleveland compare with the rest of Ohio?
The median in Ohio is $30,440, so Cleveland pays 0% more.
Where does Cleveland rank for food server pay?
250 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Cleveland?
The lowest-paid 10% make $24,830 or less a year; the top 10% make $38,350 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.