Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Chattanooga, TN-GA
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn a median of $30,740 a year ($14.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 350 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,550 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $35,360. Pay here is about the same as the Tennessee statewide median of $30,670. There are 1.3 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.70). The average (mean) salary is $30,620, close to the median.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Chattanooga, TN-GA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,130 | $11.12 |
| 25th percentile | $27,220 | $13.09 |
| Median | $30,740 | $14.78 |
| 75th percentile | $33,040 | $15.89 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,550 | $17.57 |
| Average (mean) | $30,620 | $14.72 |
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 | $2,561.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,280.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,182.31 |
| Weekly | $591.15 |
| Hourly | $14.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $30,740 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $33,830 | 2,240 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $33,560 | 2,800 |
| Gainesville, GA | $33,180 | 120 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $31,680 | n/a |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $31,120 | 90 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $31,080 | 820 |
| Cleveland, TN | $30,640 | 40 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $30,590 | 250 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $30,570 | 190 |
| Savannah, GA | $30,100 | 230 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $29,530 | 70 |
| Rome, GA | $29,400 | 60 |
| Albany, GA | $29,280 | 70 |
| Knoxville, TN | $29,100 | 620 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $28,430 | 140 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $28,360 | 170 |
| Jackson, TN | $27,950 | 100 |
| Valdosta, GA | $27,810 | 100 |
| Dalton, GA | $27,570 | 40 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $27,510 | 120 |
| Johnson City, TN | $27,050 | 110 |
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 Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chattanooga, TN-GA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,140 | $13.05 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $24,240 | $11.66 |
| Bartender | $25,650 | $12.33 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,220 | $18.85 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,010 | $17.31 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,300 | $14.57 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,750 | $13.34 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,890 | $12.93 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $33,410 | $16.06 |
| Dishwasher | $29,430 | $14.15 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,870 | $13.40 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $37,410 | $17.99 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,690 | $30.62 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,950 | $14.40 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Chattanooga, TN-GA
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 Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area is $30,740 a year, or $14.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn at least $36,550 a year. The top 25% earn $33,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,130 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $27,220 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
About 350 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area, not counting the self-employed.