How much does a food server make in Lakeland?
$33,670a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area. That is $16.19 an hour or $2,806 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.19
- Vs. national median
- -5%
- Rank among cities
- 168 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 400
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,750Median: $33,670Highest 10%: $37,120
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,750 | $14.30 | |
| 25th | $30,950 | $14.88 | |
| Median | $33,670 | $16.19 | |
| 75th | $35,760 | $17.19 | |
| 90th | $37,120 | $17.85 |
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 |
| Gainesville, FL | $34,310 |
| Crestview, FL | $34,060 |
| North Port, FL | $33,970 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $33,970 |
| 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 Lakeland
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $50,720 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $43,220 |
| Cook | $36,250 |
| Cook | $35,600 |
| Cook | $35,320 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $35,270 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $34,930 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,610 |
| Bartender | $33,920 |
| Dishwasher | $29,190 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Lakeland?
The median hourly pay in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area is $16.19 ($33,670 a year).
Do food servers make more in Lakeland than the national average?
No: $33,670 against $35,360 nationally, 5% less.
How does Lakeland compare with the rest of Florida?
The median in Florida is $33,930, so Lakeland pays 1% less.
Where does Lakeland rank for food server pay?
168 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Lakeland?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,750 or less a year; the top 10% make $37,120 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.