Food Servers, Nonrestaurant · New Jersey

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in New Jersey

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in New Jersey earn a median annual wage of $36,390 —2.9% above the national median of $35,360. That ranks NJ #15 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$36,390
Median hourly
$17.50
Entry level (P10)
$32,220
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$43,800
90th percentile
Employment
11,400
2.7 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+2.9%
U.S. $35,360

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$32,220
$33,820
$36,390
$38,690
$32,220$36,390$43,800
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $36,390.

Employment is 1.41× as concentrated as the national average, making New Jersey a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for food servers, nonrestaurant

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. New Jersey is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1New York$39,370$18.9317,5200.96
2California$39,010$18.7532,4300.94
3Colorado$38,900$18.707,7501.43
4Washington$38,870$18.698,0501.20
5Alaska$38,090$18.314300.70
6Hawaii$37,920$18.238800.74
7District of Columbia$37,920$18.231,2600.95
8Maine$37,680$18.115400.45
9Vermont$37,540$18.057801.36
10North Dakota$36,910$17.751,6302.01

Related occupations in New Jersey

Occupations in the same job family, compared within New Jersey.

OccupationNew Jersey medianU.S. median
Fast Food and Counter Workers$34,150$31,200
Waiters and Waitresses$44,960$35,230
Cooks, Restaurant$38,460$37,390
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$48,420$44,080
Food Preparation Workers$35,540$35,320
Bartenders$44,020$34,340

Frequently asked questions

How much do food servers, nonrestaurant make in New Jersey?

The median annual wage for food servers, nonrestaurant in New Jersey is $36,390, or $17.50 per hour. That is 2.9% above the national median of $35,360.

What is the entry-level food servers, nonrestaurant salary in New Jersey?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $32,220 per year ($15.49/hour). The 25th percentile is $33,820.

How many people work as food servers, nonrestaurant in New Jersey?

About 11,400 people work in this occupation in New Jersey, or 2.7 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is New Jersey a good state for food servers, nonrestaurant?

New Jersey ranks #15 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.41x as concentrated as the national average, making New Jersey a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays food servers, nonrestaurant the most?

New York has the highest median wage at $39,370 per year, followed by California ($39,010) and Colorado ($38,900).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes