How much does a food server make in Nashville?
$33,830a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area. That is $16.26 an hour or $2,819 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.26
- Vs. national median
- -4%
- Rank among cities
- 159 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 2,240
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $24,720Median: $33,830Highest 10%: $48,820
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $24,720 | $11.88 | |
| 25th | $29,240 | $14.06 | |
| Median | $33,830 | $16.26 | |
| 75th | $39,090 | $18.79 | |
| 90th | $48,820 | $23.47 |
Other cities in Tennessee
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Memphis, TN | $31,080 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $30,740 |
| Knoxville, TN | $29,100 |
| Kingsport, TN | $28,430 |
| Jackson, TN | $27,950 |
| Clarksville, TN | $27,510 |
| Johnson City, TN | $27,050 |
Related jobs in Nashville
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $70,420 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $45,630 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $40,370 |
| Cook | $38,170 |
| Cook | $37,910 |
| Cook | $37,830 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,640 |
| Dishwasher | $34,380 |
| Cook | $34,210 |
| Cook | $33,220 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Nashville?
The median hourly pay in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $16.26 ($33,830 a year).
Do food servers make more in Nashville than the national average?
No: $33,830 against $35,360 nationally, 4% less.
How does Nashville compare with the rest of Tennessee?
The median in Tennessee is $30,670, so Nashville pays 10% more.
Where does Nashville rank for food server pay?
159 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Nashville?
The lowest-paid 10% make $24,720 or less a year; the top 10% make $48,820 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.