A Buffet 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 Buffet Server Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Buffet 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): $23,772
Early Career (1-2 years): $41,305
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $55,751
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $83,981
Expert (over 8 years): $116,947
Levels
Salary
Buffet Se... Level Buffet Server
$23,772
Assistant... Level Buffet Server
$41,305
Restauran... Level Buffet Server
$55,751
Regional ... Level Buffet Server
$83,981
Restauran... Level Buffet Server
$116,947
$23,7720 yr
$41,305< 2 yrs
$55,7512-4 yrs
$83,9815-8 yrs
$116,947> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Buffet 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 Buffet Servers.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $26,460.
California: $26,360.
Massachusetts: $26,009.
District of Columbia$26,460
California$26,360
Massachusetts$26,009
Washington$25,913
New Jersey$25,904
Alaska$25,870
Connecticut$25,540
New York$25,406
Hawaii$24,979
Rhode Island$24,778
Maryland$24,642
Minnesota$24,455
Colorado$24,384
Illinois$24,360
Oregon$24,269
Delaware$24,202
New Hampshire$24,160
Virginia$24,066
Pennsylvania$23,791
Nevada$23,652
North Dakota$23,607
Michigan$23,535
Wisconsin$23,509
Vermont$23,456
Texas$23,311
Maine$23,301
Arizona$23,287
Ohio$23,270
Georgia$23,050
Indiana$22,940
Wyoming$22,919
Utah$22,885
Iowa$22,871
Kansas$22,756
Louisiana$22,723
North Carolina$22,711
Missouri$22,706
Florida$22,613
Montana$22,563
Nebraska$22,515
Kentucky$22,488
South Carolina$22,393
Tennessee$22,333
Idaho$22,309
New Mexico$22,135
Oklahoma$22,097
Alabama$21,956
South Dakota$21,719
Arkansas$21,590
West Virginia$21,521
Mississippi$21,313
Top Paying Cities for Buffet 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: $30,143
San Francisco: $29,813
Oakland: $29,185
San Jose, CA$30,143
San Francisco, CA$29,813
Oakland, CA$29,185
New York, NY$27,516
Paramus, NJ$27,182
Queens Village, NY$27,181
Passaic, NJ$27,158
Bergenfield, NJ$27,156
Stamford, CT$27,103
Huntington, NY$27,093
Newark, NJ$26,917
Bridgeport, CT$26,866
Vallejo, CA$26,819
New Brunswick, NJ$26,809
Petaluma, CA$26,795
Middlesex, NJ$26,750
Somerset, NJ$26,733
Santa Cruz, CA$26,702
Boston, MA$26,556
Monterey, CA$26,472
Seattle, WA$26,417
Santa Rosa, CA$26,413
Los Angeles, CA$26,405
Juneau, AK$26,343
Washington, DC$26,317
Orange, CA$26,232
Santa Ana, CA$26,169
Long Beach, CA$26,145
Anaheim, CA$26,140
Anchorage, AK$26,128
Santa Maria, CA$26,057
Everett, WA$26,052
Danbury, CT$25,968
Bremerton, WA$25,935
Tacoma, WA$25,849
New Suffolk, NY$25,848
Sacramento, CA$25,841
Santa Barbara, CA$25,815
Trenton, NJ$25,789
San Diego, CA$25,789
Brockton, MA$25,763
Fairbanks, AK$25,704
Lompoc, CA$25,643
Lowell, MA$25,624
Ventura, CA$25,619
Nashua, NH$25,614
Stockton, CA$25,612
Modesto, CA$25,438
Poughkeepsie, NY$25,385
Olympia, WA$25,340
Kennewick, WA$25,340
New Haven, CT$25,330
Lawrence, MA$25,244
Hartford, CT$25,220
Riverside, CA$25,215
New Bedford, MA$25,191
Richland, WA$25,191
Bakersfield, CA$25,158
San Bernardino, CA$25,148
New Britain, CT$25,146
Atlantic City, NJ$25,146
New London, CT$25,136
Norwich, CT$25,129
Portsmouth, NH$25,124
Boulder, CO$25,074
Portland, OR$25,041
Worcester, MA$25,038
Minneapolis, MN$24,964
Philadelphia, PA$24,931
Honolulu, HI$24,852
Saint Paul, MN$24,841
Vineland, NJ$24,835
Providence, RI$24,766
Chicago, IL$24,697
Bellingham, WA$24,668
Springfield, MA$24,649
Baltimore, MD$24,642
Chico, CA$24,582
Pittsfield, MA$24,517
Manchester, NH$24,472
Spokane, WA$24,367
Denver, CO$24,365
Albany, NY$24,252
Troy, NY$24,243
Nassau, NY$24,217
Schenectady, NY$24,192
Wilmington, DE$24,173
Burlington, VT$24,140
Salem, OR$24,130
Portland, ME$24,056
Yakima, WA$24,032
Rochester, MN$23,958
Reno, NV$23,946
Fresno, CA$23,946
Milwaukee, WI$23,925
Detroit, MI$23,901
Ann Arbor, MI$23,897
Allentown, PA$23,894
Colorado Springs, CO$23,853
Syracuse, NY$23,841
Carson City, NV$23,841
Houston, TX$23,808
Eugene, OR$23,796
Gary, IN$23,767
Springfield, OR$23,748
Bismarck, ND$23,743
Galveston, TX$23,726
Medford, OR$23,691
Fort Collins, CO$23,681
Concord, NH$23,669
Austin, TX$23,662
Mesa, AZ$23,612
Reading, PA$23,609
Phoenix, AZ$23,607
Dallas, TX$23,600
Saint Cloud, MN$23,577
Madison, WI$23,545
Utica, NY$23,480
Rochester, NY$23,442
Des Moines, IA$23,440
Raleigh, NC$23,437
Atlanta, GA$23,401
Battle Creek, MI$23,394
Salt Lake City, UT$23,387
Lancaster, PA$23,351
Harrisburg, PA$23,318
Kansas City, MO$23,294
Champaign, IL$23,289
Kansas City, KS$23,289
Fort Worth, TX$23,287
Columbus, OH$23,283
Boca Raton, FL$23,277
Pittsburgh, PA$23,268
Richmond, VA$23,258
Indianapolis, IN$23,253
Cleveland, OH$23,251
Las Vegas, NV$23,222
Cincinnati, OH$23,222
Petersburg, VA$23,186
Huntsville, AL$23,150
Lansing, MI$23,134
Lebanon, PA$23,131
Pueblo, CO$23,129
Appleton, WI$23,122
Buffalo, NY$23,112
Dayton, OH$23,105
Racine, WI$23,100
Charlotte, NC$23,098
Saint Louis, MO$23,091
York, PA$23,076
Elkhart, IN$23,076
Gastonia, NC$23,072
Billings, MT$23,066
Beaumont, TX$23,060
Lorain, OH$23,055
Benton Harbor, MI$23,050
Toledo, OH$23,045
Binghamton, NY$23,033
Rock Hill, SC$23,031
Rockford, IL$23,019
Springfield, IL$23,009
Elyria, OH$23,007
Fargo, ND$23,007
Flagstaff, AZ$22,990
Fort Lauderdale, FL$22,976
Duluth, MN$22,962
Miami, FL$22,962
Cheyenne, WY$22,945
Grand Forks, ND$22,945
Bangor, ME$22,892
Cedar Rapids, IA$22,866
Durham, NC$22,856
Louisville, KY$22,854
Grand Rapids, MI$22,849
Hialeah, FL$22,847
Casper, WY$22,814
Scranton, PA$22,785
New Orleans, LA$22,778
Virginia Beach, VA$22,775
Akron, OH$22,763
Peoria, IL$22,732
Sarasota, FL$22,727
Nashville, TN$22,711
Omaha, NE$22,711
Green Bay, WI$22,711
Baton Rouge, LA$22,699
Charleston, SC$22,694
Jamestown, NY$22,682
Davenport, IA$22,682
Tucson, AZ$22,670
Saint Petersburg, FL$22,656
Tampa, FL$22,651
Evansville, IN$22,637
Port Arthur, TX$22,637
Bradenton, FL$22,627
Santa Fe, NM$22,584
Orlando, FL$22,541
Clearwater, FL$22,534
Canton, OH$22,484
La Crosse, WI$22,484
Albuquerque, NM$22,469
Newport News, VA$22,467
High Point, NC$22,460
Ogden, UT$22,450
Corpus Christi, TX$22,431
Norfolk, VA$22,417
Laramie, WY$22,417
Rock Island, IL$22,402
Saginaw, MI$22,398
Jacksonville, FL$22,395
Salisbury, NC$22,391
Boise, ID$22,386
Moline, IL$22,374
Fort Myers, FL$22,367
Memphis, TN$22,362
Tulsa, OK$22,350
Waterloo, IA$22,336
Spartanburg, SC$22,312
Lincoln, NE$22,300
Fort Wayne, IN$22,295
Provo, UT$22,293
Cedar Falls, IA$22,264
San Antonio, TX$22,254
Greensboro, NC$22,245
South Bend, IN$22,242
Savannah, GA$22,216
Muskegon, MI$22,206
Birmingham, AL$22,204
Winston Salem, NC$22,192
Lake Charles, LA$22,135
Anderson, IN$22,130
Lexington, KY$22,123
Augusta, GA$22,116
Greenville, SC$22,116
Lima, OH$22,097
Wichita, KS$22,094
Tuscaloosa, AL$22,094
Columbia, SC$22,073
Springfield, OH$22,068
Asheville, NC$22,030
Bloomington, IN$22,013
Knoxville, TN$21,927
Shreveport, LA$21,924
Wilmington, NC$21,893
Roanoke, VA$21,893
Topeka, KS$21,850
Frankfort, KY$21,848
Oklahoma City, OK$21,831
Chillicothe, OH$21,822
Longview, TX$21,819
Melbourne, FL$21,817
Sioux Falls, SD$21,779
Mobile, AL$21,776
Terre Haute, IN$21,767
Altoona, PA$21,752
Amarillo, TX$21,736
Killeen, TX$21,729
Fayetteville, AR$21,709
Chattanooga, TN$21,702
Sioux City, IA$21,681
Idaho Falls, ID$21,676
Lynchburg, VA$21,657
Gainesville, FL$21,626
Portsmouth, OH$21,614
Little Rock, AR$21,609
Lafayette, LA$21,599
Youngstown, OH$21,599
Daytona Beach, FL$21,585
Clarksville, TN$21,583
Pensacola, FL$21,580
Temple, TX$21,579
Hopkinsville, KY$21,509
Erie, PA$21,504
Florence, SC$21,494
Charleston, WV$21,456
Great Falls, MT$21,444
Macon, GA$21,411
Tallahassee, FL$21,408
Fayetteville, NC$21,403
Waco, TX$21,399
Helena, MT$21,382
Pine Bluff, AR$21,373
Vincennes, IN$21,344
Lubbock, TX$21,334
Alamogordo, NM$21,320
Twin Falls, ID$21,298
Rapid City, SD$21,291
Jackson, MS$21,248
Huntington, WV$21,246
Greenville, MS$21,246
Parkersburg, WV$21,221
Montgomery, AL$21,217
Wichita Falls, TX$21,193
Springfield, MO$21,193
Biloxi, MS$21,181
Monroe, LA$21,157
Johnstown, PA$21,141
Sumter, SC$21,131
Columbus, GA$21,129
Pascagoula, MS$21,083
Abilene, TX$21,083
Kingsport, TN$21,021
Albany, GA$21,021
Gulfport, MS$21,014
Alexandria, LA$20,935
Fort Smith, AR$20,875
El Paso, TX$20,811
Las Cruces, NM$20,703
Harlingen, TX$20,643
Pocatello, ID$20,639
Florence, AL$20,608
Brownsville, TX$20,603
Mcallen, TX$20,553
Dothan, AL$20,519
Columbus, MS$20,377
Altus, OK$20,266
Lawton, OK$20,221
Pierre, SD$20,134
What Skills Can Increase a Buffet 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 a Buffet 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
$30,112
26%
Problem Solving
$24,615
3%
Collaboration
$24,615
3%
Team Management
$24,615
3%
Food Safety
$24,137
1%
Leadership
$24,137
1%
Get Latest Data
Buffet Server Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Buffet 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,
Buffet Server positions in Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Buffet Server as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Buffet Server
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
$28,678
$14.0
20%
Buffet Server Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Buffet 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 a Buffet Server can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $30,002 in 2023
to around $29,512 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Buffet Server salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Buffet Server Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$30,002
2024
$29,857
2025
$29,512
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$30,002
2024
$29,857
2025
$29,512
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Buffet Server
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
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Compensation Planning
Common company salaries for Buffet Server
Here are companies hiring for Buffet 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
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