How much does a food server make in Seattle?
$40,640a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area. That is $19.54 an hour or $3,387 a month.
- Hourly
- $19.54
- Vs. national median
- +15%
- Rank among cities
- 7 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 4,800
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $37,820Median: $40,640Highest 10%: $56,420
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,820 | $18.18 | |
| 25th | $38,380 | $18.45 | |
| Median | $40,640 | $19.54 | |
| 75th | $47,400 | $22.79 | |
| 90th | $56,420 | $27.13 |
Other cities in Washington
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Kennewick, WA | $37,860 |
| Olympia, WA | $37,540 |
| Bremerton, WA | $37,230 |
| Portland, OR | $37,230 |
| Longview, WA | $37,140 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | $36,520 |
| Bellingham, WA | $36,450 |
| Spokane, WA | $36,190 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $36,170 |
| Yakima, WA | $36,070 |
| Wenatchee, WA | $35,580 |
Related jobs in Seattle
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $80,330 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $61,610 |
| Bartender | $58,180 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $57,280 |
| Cook | $53,910 |
| Cook | $51,530 |
| Cook | $50,870 |
| Cook | $47,730 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $45,120 |
| Cook | $44,030 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Seattle?
The median hourly pay in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $19.54 ($40,640 a year).
Do food servers make more in Seattle than the national average?
Yes: $40,640 against $35,360 nationally, 15% more.
How does Seattle compare with the rest of Washington?
The median in Washington is $38,870, so Seattle pays 5% more.
Where does Seattle rank for food server pay?
7 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% make $37,820 or less a year; the top 10% make $56,420 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.