Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median of $34,190 a year ($16.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,380 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,570 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $35,360. Pay here is 13% lower than the New York statewide median of $39,370. 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 $35,690, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,240 | $15.50 |
| 25th percentile | $32,240 | $15.50 |
| Median | $34,190 | $16.44 |
| 75th percentile | $37,140 | $17.86 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,570 | $20.47 |
| Average (mean) | $35,690 | $17.16 |
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 | $2,849.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,424.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,315 |
| Weekly | $657.50 |
| Hourly | $16.44 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $34,190 salary, see how much house you can afford in New York 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ithaca, NY | $40,240 | 120 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $39,120 | 19,450 |
| Syracuse, NY | $36,770 | 540 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $36,160 | 540 |
| Binghamton, NY | $36,060 | 260 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $36,030 | 130 |
| Rochester, NY | $35,780 | 1,300 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $35,550 | 820 |
| Kingston, NY | $34,980 | 100 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $34,430 | 470 |
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 New York statewide figures.
Related jobs in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,560 | $16.61 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $46,580 | $22.39 |
| Bartender | $46,920 | $22.56 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,720 | $21.50 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,060 | $18.30 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,700 | $16.69 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,140 | $16.89 |
| Dishwasher | $35,080 | $16.86 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,730 | $16.70 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $33,860 | $16.28 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $41,860 | $20.12 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $74,290 | $35.72 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,690 | $16.20 |
| Cooks, All Other | $38,580 | $18.55 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $34,190 a year, or $16.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,570 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn at least $42,570 a year. The top 25% earn $37,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,240 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $32,240 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
About 1,380 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.