How much does a food server make in Louisville?
$31,780a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area. That is $15.28 an hour or $2,648 a month.
- Hourly
- $15.28
- Vs. national median
- -10%
- Rank among cities
- 212 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 1,690
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $25,790Median: $31,780Highest 10%: $42,730
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $25,790 | $12.40 | |
| 25th | $27,970 | $13.45 | |
| Median | $31,780 | $15.28 | |
| 75th | $36,610 | $17.60 | |
| 90th | $42,730 | $20.54 |
Other cities in Kentucky
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Bowling Green, KY | $34,040 |
| Huntington, WV | $33,540 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $32,070 |
| Lexington, KY | $30,430 |
| Owensboro, KY | $29,600 |
| Clarksville, TN | $27,510 |
Related jobs in Louisville
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $46,310 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $38,800 |
| Cook | $37,370 |
| Cook | $35,950 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $30,180 |
| Dishwasher | $29,770 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,640 |
| Cook | $29,630 |
| Bartender | $29,120 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,690 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Louisville?
The median hourly pay in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $15.28 ($31,780 a year).
Do food servers make more in Louisville than the national average?
No: $31,780 against $35,360 nationally, 10% less.
How does Louisville compare with the rest of Kentucky?
The median in Kentucky is $32,200, so Louisville pays 1% less.
Where does Louisville rank for food server pay?
212 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% make $25,790 or less a year; the top 10% make $42,730 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.