How much does a food server make in Washington?
$37,540a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area. That is $18.05 an hour or $3,128 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.05
- Vs. national median
- +6%
- Rank among cities
- 33 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 5,760
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $34,590Median: $37,540Highest 10%: $47,670
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,590 | $16.63 | |
| 25th | $36,080 | $17.35 | |
| Median | $37,540 | $18.05 | |
| 75th | $40,160 | $19.31 | |
| 90th | $47,670 | $22.92 |
Other cities in District of Columbia
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| No other city in the state with data. |
Related jobs in Washington
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $74,900 |
| Bartender | $48,030 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $47,580 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $46,040 |
| Cook | $44,880 |
| Cook | $42,920 |
| Cook | $39,650 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $38,590 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $37,630 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $37,260 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Washington?
The median hourly pay in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $18.05 ($37,540 a year).
Do food servers make more in Washington than the national average?
Yes: $37,540 against $35,360 nationally, 6% more.
How does Washington compare with the rest of District of Columbia?
The median in District of Columbia is $37,920, so Washington pays 1% less.
Where does Washington rank for food server pay?
33 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,590 or less a year; the top 10% make $47,670 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.