A FOH 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 FOH Server Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a FOH 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): $24,778
Early Career (1-2 years): $43,053
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $58,109
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $87,534
Expert (over 8 years): $121,894
Levels
Salary
FOH Serve... Level FOH Server
$24,778
Assistant... Level FOH Server
$43,053
Restauran... Level FOH Server
$58,109
Regional ... Level FOH Server
$87,534
Restauran... Level FOH Server
$121,894
$24,7780 yr
$43,053< 2 yrs
$58,1092-4 yrs
$87,5345-8 yrs
$121,894> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do FOH 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 FOH Servers.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $27,580.
California: $27,475.
Massachusetts: $27,109.
District of Columbia$27,580
California$27,475
Massachusetts$27,109
Washington$27,009
New Jersey$26,999
Alaska$26,964
Connecticut$26,621
New York$26,481
Hawaii$26,035
Rhode Island$25,826
Maryland$25,684
Minnesota$25,490
Colorado$25,415
Illinois$25,390
Oregon$25,295
Delaware$25,226
New Hampshire$25,182
Virginia$25,084
Pennsylvania$24,797
Nevada$24,653
North Dakota$24,606
Michigan$24,531
Wisconsin$24,503
Vermont$24,449
Texas$24,297
Maine$24,287
Arizona$24,272
Ohio$24,254
Georgia$24,025
Indiana$23,911
Wyoming$23,888
Utah$23,853
Iowa$23,838
Kansas$23,719
Louisiana$23,684
North Carolina$23,671
Missouri$23,666
Florida$23,569
Montana$23,517
Nebraska$23,467
Kentucky$23,440
South Carolina$23,340
Tennessee$23,278
Idaho$23,253
New Mexico$23,071
Oklahoma$23,031
Alabama$22,884
South Dakota$22,638
Arkansas$22,503
West Virginia$22,431
Mississippi$22,214
Top Paying Cities for FOH 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: $31,418
San Francisco: $31,074
Oakland: $30,419
San Jose, CA$31,418
San Francisco, CA$31,074
Oakland, CA$30,419
New York, NY$28,680
Paramus, NJ$28,332
Queens Village, NY$28,330
Passaic, NJ$28,307
Bergenfield, NJ$28,305
Stamford, CT$28,250
Huntington, NY$28,240
Newark, NJ$28,055
Bridgeport, CT$28,003
Vallejo, CA$27,953
New Brunswick, NJ$27,943
Petaluma, CA$27,928
Middlesex, NJ$27,881
Somerset, NJ$27,864
Santa Cruz, CA$27,831
Boston, MA$27,679
Monterey, CA$27,592
Seattle, WA$27,535
Santa Rosa, CA$27,530
Los Angeles, CA$27,522
Juneau, AK$27,458
Washington, DC$27,430
Orange, CA$27,342
Santa Ana, CA$27,276
Long Beach, CA$27,251
Anaheim, CA$27,246
Anchorage, AK$27,233
Santa Maria, CA$27,159
Everett, WA$27,154
Danbury, CT$27,066
Bremerton, WA$27,032
Tacoma, WA$26,942
New Suffolk, NY$26,942
Sacramento, CA$26,935
Santa Barbara, CA$26,907
Trenton, NJ$26,880
San Diego, CA$26,880
Brockton, MA$26,852
Fairbanks, AK$26,791
Lompoc, CA$26,728
Lowell, MA$26,708
Ventura, CA$26,703
Nashua, NH$26,698
Stockton, CA$26,695
Modesto, CA$26,514
Poughkeepsie, NY$26,459
Olympia, WA$26,411
Kennewick, WA$26,411
New Haven, CT$26,401
Lawrence, MA$26,312
Hartford, CT$26,287
Riverside, CA$26,282
New Bedford, MA$26,257
Richland, WA$26,257
Bakersfield, CA$26,222
San Bernardino, CA$26,212
New Britain, CT$26,210
Atlantic City, NJ$26,210
New London, CT$26,200
Norwich, CT$26,192
Portsmouth, NH$26,187
Boulder, CO$26,134
Portland, OR$26,100
Worcester, MA$26,098
Minneapolis, MN$26,020
Philadelphia, PA$25,985
Honolulu, HI$25,903
Saint Paul, MN$25,891
Vineland, NJ$25,886
Providence, RI$25,814
Chicago, IL$25,741
Bellingham, WA$25,711
Springfield, MA$25,692
Baltimore, MD$25,684
Chico, CA$25,622
Pittsfield, MA$25,555
Manchester, NH$25,507
Spokane, WA$25,398
Denver, CO$25,395
Albany, NY$25,278
Troy, NY$25,268
Nassau, NY$25,241
Schenectady, NY$25,216
Wilmington, DE$25,196
Burlington, VT$25,161
Salem, OR$25,151
Portland, ME$25,074
Yakima, WA$25,049
Rochester, MN$24,972
Reno, NV$24,959
Fresno, CA$24,959
Milwaukee, WI$24,937
Detroit, MI$24,912
Ann Arbor, MI$24,908
Allentown, PA$24,904
Colorado Springs, CO$24,862
Syracuse, NY$24,850
Carson City, NV$24,850
Houston, TX$24,815
Eugene, OR$24,802
Gary, IN$24,772
Springfield, OR$24,752
Bismarck, ND$24,747
Galveston, TX$24,730
Medford, OR$24,693
Fort Collins, CO$24,683
Concord, NH$24,670
Austin, TX$24,663
Mesa, AZ$24,610
Reading, PA$24,608
Phoenix, AZ$24,606
Dallas, TX$24,598
Saint Cloud, MN$24,574
Madison, WI$24,541
Utica, NY$24,473
Rochester, NY$24,434
Des Moines, IA$24,431
Raleigh, NC$24,429
Atlanta, GA$24,391
Battle Creek, MI$24,384
Salt Lake City, UT$24,376
Lancaster, PA$24,339
Harrisburg, PA$24,304
Kansas City, MO$24,279
Champaign, IL$24,274
Kansas City, KS$24,274
Fort Worth, TX$24,272
Columbus, OH$24,267
Boca Raton, FL$24,262
Pittsburgh, PA$24,252
Richmond, VA$24,242
Indianapolis, IN$24,237
Cleveland, OH$24,234
Las Vegas, NV$24,204
Cincinnati, OH$24,204
Petersburg, VA$24,167
Huntsville, AL$24,130
Lansing, MI$24,113
Lebanon, PA$24,110
Pueblo, CO$24,107
Appleton, WI$24,100
Buffalo, NY$24,090
Dayton, OH$24,082
Racine, WI$24,077
Charlotte, NC$24,075
Saint Louis, MO$24,067
York, PA$24,053
Elkhart, IN$24,053
Gastonia, NC$24,048
Billings, MT$24,042
Beaumont, TX$24,035
Lorain, OH$24,030
Benton Harbor, MI$24,025
Toledo, OH$24,020
Binghamton, NY$24,008
Rock Hill, SC$24,005
Rockford, IL$23,993
Springfield, IL$23,983
Elyria, OH$23,980
Fargo, ND$23,980
Flagstaff, AZ$23,963
Fort Lauderdale, FL$23,948
Duluth, MN$23,933
Miami, FL$23,933
Cheyenne, WY$23,916
Grand Forks, ND$23,916
Bangor, ME$23,861
Cedar Rapids, IA$23,833
Durham, NC$23,823
Louisville, KY$23,821
Grand Rapids, MI$23,816
Hialeah, FL$23,813
Casper, WY$23,779
Scranton, PA$23,749
New Orleans, LA$23,741
Virginia Beach, VA$23,739
Akron, OH$23,726
Peoria, IL$23,694
Sarasota, FL$23,689
Nashville, TN$23,671
Omaha, NE$23,671
Green Bay, WI$23,671
Baton Rouge, LA$23,659
Charleston, SC$23,654
Jamestown, NY$23,642
Davenport, IA$23,642
Tucson, AZ$23,629
Saint Petersburg, FL$23,614
Tampa, FL$23,609
Evansville, IN$23,594
Port Arthur, TX$23,594
Bradenton, FL$23,584
Santa Fe, NM$23,539
Orlando, FL$23,495
Clearwater, FL$23,487
Canton, OH$23,435
La Crosse, WI$23,435
Albuquerque, NM$23,420
Newport News, VA$23,417
High Point, NC$23,410
Ogden, UT$23,400
Corpus Christi, TX$23,380
Norfolk, VA$23,365
Laramie, WY$23,365
Rock Island, IL$23,350
Saginaw, MI$23,345
Jacksonville, FL$23,343
Salisbury, NC$23,338
Boise, ID$23,333
Moline, IL$23,320
Fort Myers, FL$23,313
Memphis, TN$23,308
Tulsa, OK$23,295
Waterloo, IA$23,280
Spartanburg, SC$23,255
Lincoln, NE$23,243
Fort Wayne, IN$23,238
Provo, UT$23,235
Cedar Falls, IA$23,206
San Antonio, TX$23,196
Greensboro, NC$23,186
South Bend, IN$23,183
Savannah, GA$23,156
Muskegon, MI$23,146
Birmingham, AL$23,143
Winston Salem, NC$23,131
Lake Charles, LA$23,071
Anderson, IN$23,066
Lexington, KY$23,059
Augusta, GA$23,051
Greenville, SC$23,051
Lima, OH$23,031
Wichita, KS$23,029
Tuscaloosa, AL$23,029
Columbia, SC$23,006
Springfield, OH$23,001
Asheville, NC$22,961
Bloomington, IN$22,944
Knoxville, TN$22,854
Shreveport, LA$22,852
Wilmington, NC$22,820
Roanoke, VA$22,820
Topeka, KS$22,775
Frankfort, KY$22,772
Oklahoma City, OK$22,755
Chillicothe, OH$22,745
Longview, TX$22,742
Melbourne, FL$22,740
Sioux Falls, SD$22,700
Mobile, AL$22,697
Terre Haute, IN$22,687
Altoona, PA$22,673
Amarillo, TX$22,655
Killeen, TX$22,648
Fayetteville, AR$22,628
Chattanooga, TN$22,620
Sioux City, IA$22,598
Idaho Falls, ID$22,593
Lynchburg, VA$22,573
Gainesville, FL$22,541
Portsmouth, OH$22,528
Little Rock, AR$22,523
Lafayette, LA$22,513
Youngstown, OH$22,513
Daytona Beach, FL$22,498
Clarksville, TN$22,496
Pensacola, FL$22,493
Temple, TX$22,491
Hopkinsville, KY$22,418
Erie, PA$22,413
Florence, SC$22,404
Charleston, WV$22,364
Great Falls, MT$22,351
Macon, GA$22,316
Tallahassee, FL$22,314
Fayetteville, NC$22,309
Waco, TX$22,304
Helena, MT$22,286
Pine Bluff, AR$22,277
Vincennes, IN$22,247
Lubbock, TX$22,237
Alamogordo, NM$22,222
Twin Falls, ID$22,199
Rapid City, SD$22,192
Jackson, MS$22,147
Huntington, WV$22,145
Greenville, MS$22,144
Parkersburg, WV$22,119
Montgomery, AL$22,115
Wichita Falls, TX$22,090
Springfield, MO$22,090
Biloxi, MS$22,077
Monroe, LA$22,052
Johnstown, PA$22,035
Sumter, SC$22,025
Columbus, GA$22,022
Pascagoula, MS$21,975
Abilene, TX$21,975
Kingsport, TN$21,910
Albany, GA$21,910
Gulfport, MS$21,903
Alexandria, LA$21,821
Fort Smith, AR$21,758
El Paso, TX$21,691
Las Cruces, NM$21,579
Harlingen, TX$21,516
Pocatello, ID$21,512
Florence, AL$21,479
Brownsville, TX$21,474
Mcallen, TX$21,422
Dothan, AL$21,387
Columbus, MS$21,239
Altus, OK$21,123
Lawton, OK$21,076
Pierre, SD$20,986
What Skills Can Increase a FOH 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 FOH 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
$31,386
26%
Problem Solving
$25,657
3%
Collaboration
$25,657
3%
Team Management
$25,657
3%
Food Safety
$25,158
1%
Leadership
$25,158
1%
Get Latest Data
FOH Server Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For FOH 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,
FOH Server positions in Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view FOH Server as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a FOH Server
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
$29,891
$14.0
20%
FOH Server Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a FOH 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 FOH Server can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $31,271 in 2023
to around $30,760 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of FOH Server salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of FOH Server Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$31,271
2024
$31,120
2025
$30,760
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$31,271
2024
$31,120
2025
$30,760
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for FOH Server
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
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Compensation Planning
Common company salaries for FOH Server
Here are companies hiring for FOH 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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