How much does a food server make in Tampa?
$34,480a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area. That is $16.58 an hour or $2,873 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.58
- Vs. national median
- -2%
- Rank among cities
- 134 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 2,470
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,100Median: $34,480Highest 10%: $37,570
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,100 | $13.99 | |
| 25th | $31,200 | $15.00 | |
| Median | $34,480 | $16.58 | |
| 75th | $35,910 | $17.26 | |
| 90th | $37,570 | $18.06 |
Other cities in Florida
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Naples, FL | $35,310 |
| Miami, FL | $34,950 |
| Cape Coral, FL | $34,800 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $34,410 |
| Gainesville, FL | $34,310 |
| Crestview, FL | $34,060 |
| North Port, FL | $33,970 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $33,970 |
| Lakeland, FL | $33,670 |
| Palm Bay, FL | $33,550 |
| Orlando, FL | $32,170 |
| Pensacola, FL | $31,840 |
| Deltona, FL | $31,710 |
| Ocala, FL | $31,280 |
| Sebastian, FL | $30,650 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $29,770 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $29,500 |
Related jobs in Tampa
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $58,240 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $45,240 |
| Cook | $40,270 |
| Bartender | $37,460 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $37,070 |
| Cook | $37,010 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,330 |
| Cook | $35,040 |
| Cook | $34,740 |
| Dishwasher | $31,670 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Tampa?
The median hourly pay in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area is $16.58 ($34,480 a year).
Do food servers make more in Tampa than the national average?
No: $34,480 against $35,360 nationally, 2% less.
How does Tampa compare with the rest of Florida?
The median in Florida is $33,930, so Tampa pays 2% more.
Where does Tampa rank for food server pay?
134 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Tampa?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,100 or less a year; the top 10% make $37,570 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.