Server Salary: How Much Do Servers Make?

When it comes to dine-in experience, servers make all the difference. They’re responsible for taking orders, communicating with the kitchen, and ensuring guests enjoy their time. But let’s be real—if you want to become a server, you’re probably in it for the money (or rather, the tips). So, let’s talk about how much severs actually make.

What is the job outlook for aspiring servers?

While the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports 2,277,900 waiter and waitress positions for 2023, the growth rate is limited to only 1% within the next decade. It’s expected that an average of 471,200 positions will be added each year.

The low entry barrier to serving makes it an appealing profession for many, as no formal education is required. Servers can learn through on-the-job onboarding and training, which typically lasts only a few shifts and can be completed in less than a month. Before becoming a server, you may start in another front-of-house position, such as busser, host, or runner. 

If you’re serving alcohol, however, most states require you to be at least 18 years old, and some have even older thresholds. As a server handling alcohol, you must be familiar with state and local laws. And in certain states, this means a mandatory training program. 

The limited growth in serving is partially due to technological adoptions in the restaurant industry. For example, self-serve kiosks have become the norm in many quick-service places. And even in full-service establishments, some restaurants now have customers order and pay online through their phones.  

How much do servers make?

Your wages as a server will depend on factors like location and restaurant type. A server at a fine dining spot in New York City will likely make more than a server at a chain restaurant in Denver. And notably, many servers don’t serve full-time—so the number of hours you work plays a big role in how much you make.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports $31,940 as the median pay for waiters and waitresses in 2023. Other sites, like Talent.com, analyze thousands of public salaries to determine average pay in the United States. At the time of writing, the site reports a similar average server salary of $31,200. Entry-level servers start at $26,325 while more experienced professionals make up to $56,065 per year. 

Because ranges can be so wide, one of the best ways to determine a baseline for what you should be making is by practicing salary transparency. Talking to other servers (or even restaurant owners) about pay can help ensure you’re making a fair wage.

 

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How much do servers make in tips?

In most cases, a large portion of a server’s salary comes from tips—so pay can also be highly dependent on your sales volume. It’s standard for customers to tip between 15 and 20% of the bill amount, but this can also be adjusted up or down based on service quality. One study found that the median share of tips that make up a server’s hourly earnings is 58.5%.

Every restaurant has its own protocol when paying out tips to servers. You may receive cash tips at the end of your shift, or you may need to wait until your next paycheck. Most restaurants also have tip-pooling policies in place, where servers pay out a share of tips to other team members. For instance, you may be required to pay out 5% of your net sales, which is then distributed to kitchen staff, bartenders, hosts, and bussers. 

In the United States, the national minimum wage for tipped employees is $2.13 per hour, provided that workers make at least $7.25 with cash and tips combined. This means that servers need to make at least $5.12 per hour in tips. Otherwise, the restaurant is required to pay out the difference.

Notably, many states have their own laws, which have higher thresholds than the national tipped minimum wage. In Florida, the minimum wage is $9.98 per hour, provided servers make at least $13 per hour with tips included. And California requires employers to pay an hourly minimum of $16.50, which can’t account for tips—servers receive gratuity on top of this. 

How do server salaries compare to others?

According to Talent.com, the average restaurant worker makes $29,641 annually (or $14.25 hourly). This is slightly lower than the reported average for servers: $31,200 annually (or $15 hourly). To compare this across other positions in the restaurant industry, we summarized live data from the same source in the table below.

Across these positions, a chef’s salary is the highest at $55,000—76.3% higher than a server’s pay. Managers follow closely behind, making $53,720 per year. Chefs and managers are often paid a regular salary, which accounts for the big wage gap compared to part-time, hourly roles. 

Other front-of-house positions like runners, hosts, and bussers make the least income. At $29,250, this is notably less than a server’s pay, reflecting the big difference tips can make. And because there typically isn’t a limit to how much you can make in tips, a server’s pay is technically uncapped—so in some cases, you could be making more than peers in higher positions, like management. 

The average server salary per year by location

Because location plays such an important role in wages (in and out of the restaurant industry), let’s take a look at a server’s income by location. The table below shows the average salary of a server in the ten most populated U.S. cities, sourced from Talent.com’s live numbers once again. 

We found that the average server in almost every major city makes more than the national average: $31,200. The exceptions were Phoenix at $30,050 (-3.7%) and Jacksonville at $30,160 (-3.3%), along with New York where a server’s pay matches the overall number. Servers in Dallas make the most, just clearing an annual income above $36,000—15.4% higher.

It’s no surprise that working in a big city can lead to more income. More foot traffic for restaurants leads to more opportunities for those in the industry. And restaurants here have higher price points on their menus, meaning more tips for servers. 

However, it’s also important to consider what a high cost of living means for you in return. Let’s say you’re making the average server salary of $31,200 in Jacksonville and want to move to Los Angeles for the increased earning potential. According to Bankrate.com, you’ll need to make $50,514 to live in Long Beach, where the cost of living is a whopping 61.9% higher.

The total compensation for a server

We’ve discussed tips as part of a server’s total compensation, but there are a few other factors to consider when looking at pay. It’s increasingly common for restaurants to offer benefits and perks to attract and retain top talent. This includes the following: 

Health benefits – This is especially common if you’re serving full-time at a large chain restaurant. According to Nerdwallet, employer-paid health insurance is worth anywhere between $5,000 and $25,000. Coverage for medical, dental, and vision needs can protect you financially from any unforeseen circumstances while providing peace of mind. 

Other benefits – Some restaurants offer paid time off (PTO) if you serve full-time. Plus, discounted meals and professional development opportunities—such as the ability to move into other positions, like a trainer, head server, or general manager—can be huge perks. Lastly, the flexible schedule that a serving role offers can allow you to balance other life commitments, like a day job, childcare, or education.

How to increase your server salary

While factors like your state’s minimum wage law are out of your control, there are still many steps you can take to maximize your earnings as a server. This includes the following:

Maximize your tips – With tips, your earning potential becomes uncapped, so increasing your tips will increase your pay. Offering exceptional service is a given, and building rapport with regular customers can help boost your gratuity. You can also try up-selling menu items—this is where you advertise premium products like drinks and desserts to increase the bill (which then increases your tip, assuming the customer tips based on a percentage of the bill). 

Choose the right restaurant – Upscale restaurants have bigger bills, which means bigger tips. But that’s not the only factor you need to consider—a busy restaurant with more tables turned also leads to more tipping opportunities. You may also choose to work for a banquet or catering company. With special events, these companies often include an automatic gratuity on the bill and then redistribute it among the staff.  

Work more shifts – While it’s obvious that taking on more shifts leads to more pay, you can also be more strategic with the shifts you work. For instance, closing shifts often lead to more overtime pay if guests stay longer than expected. Plus, working a holiday shift can come with statutory pay, along with an increase in tips due to the extra foot traffic.

Consider development opportunities – Completing specific training courses, such as for food safety or bar mixology, can help advance your skillset (and your earning potential) as a server. You can also ask for professional development opportunities for more pay. This can include opening or closing the restaurant, as well as becoming a head server or service trainer.

A server’s salary, summarized

Based on our research, it’s safe to say that the average server in the U.S. makes a little over $31,000 per year, but earnings can fluctuate much higher or lower, depending on factors like location and restaurant type. Servers also earn a large portion of their income through tips from customers.

When comparing roles in the industry, chefs and managers tend to make proportionately more than servers. However, servers are among the highest front-of-house—making more than runners, hosts, and bussers—as a direct result of tips.

As a server, there are also many ways you can increase your earning potential. This includes maximizing your tips (by creating optimal guest experiences and up-selling specialty menu items), choosing the right restaurant, and taking on more opportunities.