How much does a food server make in Ithaca?
$40,240a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Ithaca, NY metro area. That is $19.35 an hour or $3,353 a month.
- Hourly
- $19.35
- Vs. national median
- +14%
- Rank among cities
- 8 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 120
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $33,690Median: $40,240Highest 10%: $45,250
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $33,690 | $16.20 | |
| 25th | $36,860 | $17.72 | |
| Median | $40,240 | $19.35 | |
| 75th | $42,050 | $20.22 | |
| 90th | $45,250 | $21.75 |
Other cities in New York
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| New York, NY | $39,120 |
| Syracuse, NY | $36,770 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | $36,160 |
| Binghamton, NY | $36,060 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $36,030 |
| Rochester, NY | $35,780 |
| Albany, NY | $35,550 |
| Kingston, NY | $34,980 |
| Utica, NY | $34,430 |
| Buffalo, NY | $34,190 |
Related jobs in Ithaca
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $64,010 |
| Cook | $46,870 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,780 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $46,090 |
| Bartender | $44,040 |
| Cook | $39,280 |
| Cook | $36,200 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,140 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $35,700 |
| Dishwasher | $35,170 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Ithaca?
The median hourly pay in the Ithaca, NY metro area is $19.35 ($40,240 a year).
Do food servers make more in Ithaca than the national average?
Yes: $40,240 against $35,360 nationally, 14% more.
How does Ithaca compare with the rest of New York?
The median in New York is $39,370, so Ithaca pays 2% more.
Where does Ithaca rank for food server pay?
8 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Ithaca?
The lowest-paid 10% make $33,690 or less a year; the top 10% make $45,250 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.