How much does a food server make in Lansing?
$34,700a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Lansing-East Lansing, MI metro area. That is $16.68 an hour or $2,892 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.68
- Vs. national median
- -2%
- Rank among cities
- 121 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 430
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $27,720Median: $34,700Highest 10%: $37,060
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,720 | $13.33 | |
| 25th | $29,740 | $14.30 | |
| Median | $34,700 | $16.68 | |
| 75th | $35,950 | $17.28 | |
| 90th | $37,060 | $17.82 |
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 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $34,170 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $32,770 |
| 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 Lansing
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $59,280 |
| Bartender | $40,230 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $38,210 |
| Cook | $37,100 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $37,050 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $37,040 |
| Cook | $35,970 |
| Cook | $33,280 |
| Dishwasher | $33,130 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $30,470 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Lansing?
The median hourly pay in the Lansing-East Lansing, MI metro area is $16.68 ($34,700 a year).
Do food servers make more in Lansing than the national average?
No: $34,700 against $35,360 nationally, 2% less.
How does Lansing compare with the rest of Michigan?
The median in Michigan is $34,260, so Lansing pays 1% more.
Where does Lansing rank for food server pay?
121 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Lansing?
The lowest-paid 10% make $27,720 or less a year; the top 10% make $37,060 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.