How much does a food server make in Lawrence?
$26,550a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Lawrence, KS metro area. That is $12.76 an hour or $2,213 a month.
- Hourly
- $12.76
- Vs. national median
- -25%
- Rank among cities
- 337 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 130
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $21,770Median: $26,550Highest 10%: $30,400
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,770 | $10.47 | |
| 25th | $23,620 | $11.36 | |
| Median | $26,550 | $12.76 | |
| 75th | $29,710 | $14.28 | |
| 90th | $30,400 | $14.62 |
Other cities in Kansas
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Kansas City, MO | $33,620 |
| Joplin, MO | $30,370 |
| St. Joseph, MO | $30,210 |
| Topeka, KS | $26,670 |
| Wichita, KS | $24,190 |
| Manhattan, KS | $21,660 |
Related jobs in Lawrence
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $44,700 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $38,440 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $37,230 |
| Cook | $36,080 |
| Cook | $35,140 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,350 |
| Bartender | $29,980 |
| Cook | $29,700 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,320 |
| Dishwasher | $27,590 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Lawrence?
The median hourly pay in the Lawrence, KS metro area is $12.76 ($26,550 a year).
Do food servers make more in Lawrence than the national average?
No: $26,550 against $35,360 nationally, 25% less.
How does Lawrence compare with the rest of Kansas?
The median in Kansas is $29,040, so Lawrence pays 9% less.
Where does Lawrence rank for food server pay?
337 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Lawrence?
The lowest-paid 10% make $21,770 or less a year; the top 10% make $30,400 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.