An Am Server's salary isn't a fixed number.
It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Am Server Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of an Am Server's salary.
As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases.
Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $23,997
Early Career (1-2 years): $41,696
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $56,277
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $84,774
Expert (over 8 years): $118,052
Levels
Salary
Am Server... Level Am Server
$23,997
Assistant... Level Am Server
$41,696
Restauran... Level Am Server
$56,277
Regional ... Level Am Server
$84,774
Restauran... Level Am Server
$118,052
$23,9970 yr
$41,696< 2 yrs
$56,2772-4 yrs
$84,7745-8 yrs
$118,052> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Am Server Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work.
States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors
often pay more to attract Am Servers.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $26,992.
California: $26,890.
Massachusetts: $26,531.
District of Columbia$26,992
California$26,890
Massachusetts$26,531
Washington$26,434
New Jersey$26,424
Alaska$26,390
Connecticut$26,053
New York$25,917
Hawaii$25,481
Rhode Island$25,276
Maryland$25,137
Minnesota$24,947
Colorado$24,873
Illinois$24,849
Oregon$24,756
Delaware$24,688
New Hampshire$24,645
Virginia$24,549
Pennsylvania$24,269
Nevada$24,128
North Dakota$24,081
Michigan$24,008
Wisconsin$23,981
Vermont$23,928
Texas$23,779
Maine$23,769
Arizona$23,755
Ohio$23,737
Georgia$23,513
Indiana$23,401
Wyoming$23,379
Utah$23,345
Iowa$23,330
Kansas$23,213
Louisiana$23,179
North Carolina$23,167
Missouri$23,162
Florida$23,067
Montana$23,016
Nebraska$22,967
Kentucky$22,940
South Carolina$22,843
Tennessee$22,782
Idaho$22,757
New Mexico$22,579
Oklahoma$22,540
Alabama$22,397
South Dakota$22,155
Arkansas$22,024
West Virginia$21,953
Mississippi$21,741
Top Paying Cities for Am Servers
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $30,749
San Francisco: $30,412
Oakland: $29,771
San Jose, CA$30,749
San Francisco, CA$30,412
Oakland, CA$29,771
New York, NY$28,069
Paramus, NJ$27,728
Queens Village, NY$27,727
Passaic, NJ$27,704
Bergenfield, NJ$27,701
Stamford, CT$27,648
Huntington, NY$27,638
Newark, NJ$27,458
Bridgeport, CT$27,406
Vallejo, CA$27,358
New Brunswick, NJ$27,348
Petaluma, CA$27,333
Middlesex, NJ$27,287
Somerset, NJ$27,270
Santa Cruz, CA$27,238
Boston, MA$27,090
Monterey, CA$27,004
Seattle, WA$26,948
Santa Rosa, CA$26,943
Los Angeles, CA$26,936
Juneau, AK$26,873
Washington, DC$26,846
Orange, CA$26,759
Santa Ana, CA$26,695
Long Beach, CA$26,670
Anaheim, CA$26,665
Anchorage, AK$26,653
Santa Maria, CA$26,580
Everett, WA$26,575
Danbury, CT$26,489
Bremerton, WA$26,456
Tacoma, WA$26,368
New Suffolk, NY$26,367
Sacramento, CA$26,361
Santa Barbara, CA$26,334
Trenton, NJ$26,307
San Diego, CA$26,307
Brockton, MA$26,280
Fairbanks, AK$26,220
Lompoc, CA$26,158
Lowell, MA$26,138
Ventura, CA$26,134
Nashua, NH$26,129
Stockton, CA$26,127
Modesto, CA$25,949
Poughkeepsie, NY$25,895
Olympia, WA$25,849
Kennewick, WA$25,849
New Haven, CT$25,839
Lawrence, MA$25,751
Hartford, CT$25,727
Riverside, CA$25,722
New Bedford, MA$25,697
Richland, WA$25,697
Bakersfield, CA$25,663
San Bernardino, CA$25,654
New Britain, CT$25,651
Atlantic City, NJ$25,651
New London, CT$25,641
Norwich, CT$25,634
Portsmouth, NH$25,629
Boulder, CO$25,578
Portland, OR$25,544
Worcester, MA$25,541
Minneapolis, MN$25,466
Philadelphia, PA$25,432
Honolulu, HI$25,351
Saint Paul, MN$25,340
Vineland, NJ$25,334
Providence, RI$25,264
Chicago, IL$25,193
Bellingham, WA$25,164
Springfield, MA$25,144
Baltimore, MD$25,137
Chico, CA$25,076
Pittsfield, MA$25,010
Manchester, NH$24,964
Spokane, WA$24,856
Denver, CO$24,854
Albany, NY$24,739
Troy, NY$24,730
Nassau, NY$24,704
Schenectady, NY$24,678
Wilmington, DE$24,659
Burlington, VT$24,625
Salem, OR$24,615
Portland, ME$24,539
Yakima, WA$24,515
Rochester, MN$24,440
Reno, NV$24,427
Fresno, CA$24,427
Milwaukee, WI$24,405
Detroit, MI$24,381
Ann Arbor, MI$24,377
Allentown, PA$24,374
Colorado Springs, CO$24,332
Syracuse, NY$24,320
Carson City, NV$24,320
Houston, TX$24,286
Eugene, OR$24,274
Gary, IN$24,245
Springfield, OR$24,225
Bismarck, ND$24,220
Galveston, TX$24,203
Medford, OR$24,167
Fort Collins, CO$24,157
Concord, NH$24,145
Austin, TX$24,137
Mesa, AZ$24,086
Reading, PA$24,084
Phoenix, AZ$24,081
Dallas, TX$24,074
Saint Cloud, MN$24,050
Madison, WI$24,018
Utica, NY$23,952
Rochester, NY$23,913
Des Moines, IA$23,911
Raleigh, NC$23,908
Atlanta, GA$23,872
Battle Creek, MI$23,864
Salt Lake City, UT$23,857
Lancaster, PA$23,820
Harrisburg, PA$23,786
Kansas City, MO$23,762
Champaign, IL$23,757
Kansas City, KS$23,757
Fort Worth, TX$23,755
Columbus, OH$23,750
Boca Raton, FL$23,745
Pittsburgh, PA$23,735
Richmond, VA$23,725
Indianapolis, IN$23,720
Cleveland, OH$23,718
Las Vegas, NV$23,689
Cincinnati, OH$23,689
Petersburg, VA$23,652
Huntsville, AL$23,616
Lansing, MI$23,599
Lebanon, PA$23,596
Pueblo, CO$23,594
Appleton, WI$23,586
Buffalo, NY$23,577
Dayton, OH$23,569
Racine, WI$23,564
Charlotte, NC$23,562
Saint Louis, MO$23,555
York, PA$23,540
Elkhart, IN$23,540
Gastonia, NC$23,535
Billings, MT$23,529
Beaumont, TX$23,523
Lorain, OH$23,518
Benton Harbor, MI$23,513
Toledo, OH$23,508
Binghamton, NY$23,496
Rock Hill, SC$23,494
Rockford, IL$23,481
Springfield, IL$23,472
Elyria, OH$23,469
Fargo, ND$23,469
Flagstaff, AZ$23,452
Fort Lauderdale, FL$23,438
Duluth, MN$23,423
Miami, FL$23,423
Cheyenne, WY$23,406
Grand Forks, ND$23,406
Bangor, ME$23,352
Cedar Rapids, IA$23,325
Durham, NC$23,315
Louisville, KY$23,313
Grand Rapids, MI$23,308
Hialeah, FL$23,306
Casper, WY$23,272
Scranton, PA$23,243
New Orleans, LA$23,235
Virginia Beach, VA$23,233
Akron, OH$23,221
Peoria, IL$23,189
Sarasota, FL$23,184
Nashville, TN$23,167
Omaha, NE$23,167
Green Bay, WI$23,167
Baton Rouge, LA$23,155
Charleston, SC$23,150
Jamestown, NY$23,138
Davenport, IA$23,138
Tucson, AZ$23,126
Saint Petersburg, FL$23,111
Tampa, FL$23,106
Evansville, IN$23,091
Port Arthur, TX$23,091
Bradenton, FL$23,082
Santa Fe, NM$23,038
Orlando, FL$22,994
Clearwater, FL$22,987
Canton, OH$22,935
La Crosse, WI$22,935
Albuquerque, NM$22,921
Newport News, VA$22,918
High Point, NC$22,911
Ogden, UT$22,901
Corpus Christi, TX$22,882
Norfolk, VA$22,867
Laramie, WY$22,867
Rock Island, IL$22,852
Saginaw, MI$22,848
Jacksonville, FL$22,845
Salisbury, NC$22,840
Boise, ID$22,835
Moline, IL$22,823
Fort Myers, FL$22,816
Memphis, TN$22,811
Tulsa, OK$22,799
Waterloo, IA$22,784
Spartanburg, SC$22,760
Lincoln, NE$22,748
Fort Wayne, IN$22,743
Provo, UT$22,740
Cedar Falls, IA$22,711
San Antonio, TX$22,701
Greensboro, NC$22,692
South Bend, IN$22,689
Savannah, GA$22,662
Muskegon, MI$22,653
Birmingham, AL$22,650
Winston Salem, NC$22,638
Lake Charles, LA$22,579
Anderson, IN$22,575
Lexington, KY$22,567
Augusta, GA$22,560
Greenville, SC$22,560
Lima, OH$22,540
Wichita, KS$22,538
Tuscaloosa, AL$22,538
Columbia, SC$22,516
Springfield, OH$22,511
Asheville, NC$22,472
Bloomington, IN$22,455
Knoxville, TN$22,367
Shreveport, LA$22,365
Wilmington, NC$22,333
Roanoke, VA$22,333
Topeka, KS$22,289
Frankfort, KY$22,287
Oklahoma City, OK$22,270
Chillicothe, OH$22,260
Longview, TX$22,258
Melbourne, FL$22,255
Sioux Falls, SD$22,216
Mobile, AL$22,214
Terre Haute, IN$22,204
Altoona, PA$22,189
Amarillo, TX$22,172
Killeen, TX$22,165
Fayetteville, AR$22,146
Chattanooga, TN$22,138
Sioux City, IA$22,116
Idaho Falls, ID$22,111
Lynchburg, VA$22,092
Gainesville, FL$22,060
Portsmouth, OH$22,048
Little Rock, AR$22,043
Lafayette, LA$22,033
Youngstown, OH$22,033
Daytona Beach, FL$22,019
Clarksville, TN$22,016
Pensacola, FL$22,014
Temple, TX$22,012
Hopkinsville, KY$21,941
Erie, PA$21,936
Florence, SC$21,926
Charleston, WV$21,887
Great Falls, MT$21,875
Macon, GA$21,841
Tallahassee, FL$21,838
Fayetteville, NC$21,833
Waco, TX$21,829
Helena, MT$21,812
Pine Bluff, AR$21,802
Vincennes, IN$21,773
Lubbock, TX$21,763
Alamogordo, NM$21,748
Twin Falls, ID$21,726
Rapid City, SD$21,719
Jackson, MS$21,675
Huntington, WV$21,673
Greenville, MS$21,673
Parkersburg, WV$21,648
Montgomery, AL$21,643
Wichita Falls, TX$21,619
Springfield, MO$21,619
Biloxi, MS$21,607
Monroe, LA$21,582
Johnstown, PA$21,565
Sumter, SC$21,556
Columbus, GA$21,553
Pascagoula, MS$21,507
Abilene, TX$21,507
Kingsport, TN$21,443
Albany, GA$21,443
Gulfport, MS$21,436
Alexandria, LA$21,356
Fort Smith, AR$21,295
El Paso, TX$21,229
Las Cruces, NM$21,119
Harlingen, TX$21,057
Pocatello, ID$21,053
Florence, AL$21,022
Brownsville, TX$21,017
Mcallen, TX$20,966
Dothan, AL$20,931
Columbus, MS$20,787
Altus, OK$20,673
Lawton, OK$20,627
Pierre, SD$20,539
What Skills Can Increase an Am Server's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Customer Service (Mentioned in 11.92% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
Point of Sale (Mentioned in 2.74% Job Postings): Accepting payments from customers for goods and services either in person or online.
Product Quality (Mentioned in 1.88% Job Postings): Product quality refers to how well a product satisfies customer needs, serves its purpose and meets industry standards. When evaluating product quality, businesses consider several key factors, including whether a product solves a problem, works efficiently or suits customers' purposes.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Customer Service
11.92%
Point of Sale
2.74%
Product Quality
1.88%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Am Server's salary.
Products and Services: Can increase your salary by up to 26%.
Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Products and Services
$30,717
26%
Problem Solving
$25,110
3%
Collaboration
$25,110
3%
Team Management
$25,110
3%
Food Safety
$24,622
1%
Leadership
$24,622
1%
Get Latest Data
Am Server Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Am Server roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential
by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit,
offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely,
Am Server positions in Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Am Server as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for an Am Server
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
$29,254
$14.0
20%
Am Server Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how an Am Server's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Salaries for an Am Server can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $30,286 in 2023
to around $29,790 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Am Server salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Am Server Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$30,286
2024
$30,139
2025
$29,790
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$30,286
2024
$30,139
2025
$29,790
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Am Server
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.
Compensation Planning
Common company salaries for Am Server
Here are companies hiring for Am Server and their salaries, click below for more details.
N
$97,099/per year
New York Police Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$95,962/per year
State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$94,615/per year
US Department of Transportation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$93,141/per year
US General Services Administration
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$92,342/per year
Los Angeles County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
D
$92,011/per year
Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,967/per year
US Department of Commerce
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,755/per year
US Department of Energy
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
F
$91,673/per year
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$90,276/per year
Naval Sea Systems Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,975/per year
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$88,721/per year
San Diego County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,664/per year
The TTB
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$87,569/per year
Lutheran Services
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
M
$85,066/per year
Maryland Inc
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$83,780/per year
State University of New York
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$82,969/per year
New York State
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
P
$82,703/per year
Puerto Rico Department of Education
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$80,526/per year
US Central Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
H
$80,286/per year
Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$79,270/per year
Air Force Reserve
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$78,505/per year
American Automobile Association (AAA)
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$76,678/per year
State of Florida - Department of Health
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$75,183/per year
New York State Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$75,106/per year
State University System of Florida
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
Find Your Next Am Server Job
Ready to take the next step in your career?
Browse thousands of current Am Server job openings on our job board.
Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
For Employees
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
For Employers
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.