Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median of $35,710 a year ($17.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,540 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $40,990 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $35,360. Pay here is 3% lower than the Maryland statewide median of $36,650. There are 2.6 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $36,410, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,550 | $15.17 |
| 25th percentile | $34,050 | $16.37 |
| Median | $35,710 | $17.17 |
| 75th percentile | $37,310 | $17.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $40,990 | $19.71 |
| Average (mean) | $36,410 | $17.50 |
Half of food servers, nonrestaurant earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,975.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,487.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,373.46 |
| Weekly | $686.73 |
| Hourly | $17.17 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $35,710 salary, see how much house you can afford in Maryland at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $37,540 | 5,760 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $36,650 | 120 |
| Salisbury, MD | $34,260 | 150 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $33,540 | 120 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $33,300 | 7,610 |
Highest-paying states for food servers, nonrestaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 |
| California | $39,010 |
| Colorado | $38,900 |
| Washington | $38,870 |
| Alaska | $38,090 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 |
| Maine | $37,680 |
| Vermont | $37,540 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 |
See Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in every state or the Maryland statewide figures.
Related jobs in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,090 | $15.91 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| Bartender | $37,360 | $17.96 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,760 | $18.63 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,420 | $17.99 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,080 | $16.87 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $37,540 | $18.05 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,290 | $16.01 |
| Dishwasher | $33,280 | $16.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $37,390 | $17.98 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,460 | $17.53 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $59,290 | $28.50 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $39,310 | $18.90 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food servers, nonrestaurant make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $35,710 a year, or $17.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $40,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn at least $40,990 a year. The top 25% earn $37,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,550 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $34,050 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
About 3,540 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area, not counting the self-employed.