How much does a food server make in Columbus?
$32,250a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Columbus, OH metro area. That is $15.50 an hour or $2,688 a month.
- Hourly
- $15.50
- Vs. national median
- -9%
- Rank among cities
- 201 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 2,550
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $27,040Median: $32,250Highest 10%: $39,880
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,040 | $13.00 | |
| 25th | $29,310 | $14.09 | |
| Median | $32,250 | $15.50 | |
| 75th | $37,510 | $18.03 | |
| 90th | $39,880 | $19.17 |
Other cities in Ohio
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Mansfield, OH | $34,940 |
| Huntington, WV | $33,540 |
| Sandusky, OH | $32,710 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $32,070 |
| Akron, OH | $31,210 |
| Dayton, OH | $31,200 |
| Cleveland, OH | $30,350 |
| 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 Columbus
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $59,830 |
| Cook | $38,100 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $37,790 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $37,490 |
| Bartender | $37,000 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,930 |
| Cook | $36,590 |
| Cook | $35,200 |
| Dishwasher | $33,690 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $30,000 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Columbus?
The median hourly pay in the Columbus, OH metro area is $15.50 ($32,250 a year).
Do food servers make more in Columbus than the national average?
No: $32,250 against $35,360 nationally, 9% less.
How does Columbus compare with the rest of Ohio?
The median in Ohio is $30,440, so Columbus pays 6% more.
Where does Columbus rank for food server pay?
201 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Columbus?
The lowest-paid 10% make $27,040 or less a year; the top 10% make $39,880 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.