How much does a food server make in Grand Rapids?
$32,770a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro area. That is $15.75 an hour or $2,731 a month.
- Hourly
- $15.75
- Vs. national median
- -7%
- Rank among cities
- 192 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 1,160
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $28,950Median: $32,770Highest 10%: $36,840
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,950 | $13.92 | |
| 25th | $29,300 | $14.09 | |
| Median | $32,770 | $15.75 | |
| 75th | $35,870 | $17.25 | |
| 90th | $36,840 | $17.71 |
Other cities in Michigan
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Saginaw, MI | $37,030 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $36,710 |
| Muskegon, MI | $36,250 |
| Detroit, MI | $35,170 |
| Traverse City, MI | $35,070 |
| Kalamazoo, MI | $34,880 |
| Lansing, MI | $34,700 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $34,170 |
| Bay City, MI | $32,370 |
| Niles, MI | $31,840 |
| Jackson, MI | $30,090 |
| South Bend, IN | $29,800 |
| Flint, MI | $29,710 |
Related jobs in Grand Rapids
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $61,890 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $42,930 |
| Bartender | $38,430 |
| Cook | $37,800 |
| Cook | $37,360 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $37,240 |
| Cook | $34,200 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $33,890 |
| Dishwasher | $31,940 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,920 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Grand Rapids?
The median hourly pay in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro area is $15.75 ($32,770 a year).
Do food servers make more in Grand Rapids than the national average?
No: $32,770 against $35,360 nationally, 7% less.
How does Grand Rapids compare with the rest of Michigan?
The median in Michigan is $34,260, so Grand Rapids pays 4% less.
Where does Grand Rapids rank for food server pay?
192 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Grand Rapids?
The lowest-paid 10% make $28,950 or less a year; the top 10% make $36,840 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.