How much does a food server make in Gainesville?
$34,310a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Gainesville, FL metro area. That is $16.50 an hour or $2,859 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.50
- Vs. national median
- -3%
- Rank among cities
- 140 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 230
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $28,750Median: $34,310Highest 10%: $37,500
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,750 | $13.82 | |
| 25th | $30,710 | $14.76 | |
| Median | $34,310 | $16.50 | |
| 75th | $37,500 | $18.03 | |
| 90th | $37,500 | $18.03 |
Other cities in Florida
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Naples, FL | $35,310 |
| Miami, FL | $34,950 |
| Cape Coral, FL | $34,800 |
| Tampa, FL | $34,480 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $34,410 |
| Crestview, FL | $34,060 |
| North Port, FL | $33,970 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $33,970 |
| Lakeland, FL | $33,670 |
| Palm Bay, FL | $33,550 |
| Orlando, FL | $32,170 |
| Pensacola, FL | $31,840 |
| Deltona, FL | $31,710 |
| Ocala, FL | $31,280 |
| Sebastian, FL | $30,650 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $29,770 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $29,500 |
Related jobs in Gainesville
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $47,380 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $40,040 |
| Cook | $36,400 |
| Cook | $35,760 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $35,400 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $35,140 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,050 |
| Bartender | $35,050 |
| Cook | $33,220 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $29,540 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Gainesville?
The median hourly pay in the Gainesville, FL metro area is $16.50 ($34,310 a year).
Do food servers make more in Gainesville than the national average?
No: $34,310 against $35,360 nationally, 3% less.
How does Gainesville compare with the rest of Florida?
The median in Florida is $33,930, so Gainesville pays 1% more.
Where does Gainesville rank for food server pay?
140 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Gainesville?
The lowest-paid 10% make $28,750 or less a year; the top 10% make $37,500 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.