How much does a food server make in Salem?
$34,720a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Salem, OR metro area. That is $16.69 an hour or $2,893 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.69
- Vs. national median
- -2%
- Rank among cities
- 119 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 580
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $32,760Median: $34,720Highest 10%: $47,080
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,760 | $15.75 | |
| 25th | $33,250 | $15.99 | |
| Median | $34,720 | $16.69 | |
| 75th | $42,690 | $20.52 | |
| 90th | $47,080 | $22.63 |
Other cities in Oregon
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Bend, OR | $37,790 |
| Portland, OR | $37,230 |
| Grants Pass, OR | $34,730 |
| Medford, OR | $34,490 |
| Eugene, OR | $34,450 |
| Albany, OR | $33,790 |
| Corvallis, OR | $33,560 |
Related jobs in Salem
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $63,750 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $48,720 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $45,660 |
| Cook | $44,690 |
| Cook | $39,170 |
| Bartender | $38,410 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $37,300 |
| Host and Hostess | $36,780 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $35,250 |
| Dishwasher | $35,070 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Salem?
The median hourly pay in the Salem, OR metro area is $16.69 ($34,720 a year).
Do food servers make more in Salem than the national average?
No: $34,720 against $35,360 nationally, 2% less.
How does Salem compare with the rest of Oregon?
The median in Oregon is $36,620, so Salem pays 5% less.
Where does Salem rank for food server pay?
119 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Salem?
The lowest-paid 10% make $32,760 or less a year; the top 10% make $47,080 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.