How much does a food server make in New York?
$39,120a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area. That is $18.81 an hour or $3,260 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.81
- Vs. national median
- +11%
- Rank among cities
- 13 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 19,450
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $33,250Median: $39,120Highest 10%: $52,080
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $33,250 | $15.99 | |
| 25th | $36,480 | $17.54 | |
| Median | $39,120 | $18.81 | |
| 75th | $47,930 | $23.04 | |
| 90th | $52,080 | $25.04 |
Other cities in New York
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Ithaca, NY | $40,240 |
| Syracuse, NY | $36,770 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | $36,160 |
| Binghamton, NY | $36,060 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $36,030 |
| Rochester, NY | $35,780 |
| Albany, NY | $35,550 |
| Kingston, NY | $34,980 |
| Utica, NY | $34,430 |
| Buffalo, NY | $34,190 |
Related jobs in New York
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $71,780 |
| Bartender | $61,220 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $48,690 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $47,610 |
| Cook | $46,870 |
| Cook | $43,740 |
| Cook | $42,630 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $36,980 |
| Host and Hostess | $36,500 |
| Cook | $35,780 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in New York?
The median hourly pay in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $18.81 ($39,120 a year).
Do food servers make more in New York than the national average?
Yes: $39,120 against $35,360 nationally, 11% more.
How does New York compare with the rest of New York?
The median in New York is $39,370, so New York pays 1% less.
Where does New York rank for food server pay?
13 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in New York?
The lowest-paid 10% make $33,250 or less a year; the top 10% make $52,080 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.