Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn a median of $32,070 a year ($15.42 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,490 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,190 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $35,360. Pay here is 5% higher than the Ohio statewide median of $30,440. There are 3.2 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $33,450, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,820 | $13.37 |
| 25th percentile | $29,120 | $14.00 |
| Median | $32,070 | $15.42 |
| 75th percentile | $36,610 | $17.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,190 | $18.36 |
| Average (mean) | $33,450 | $16.08 |
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 | $2,672.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,336.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,233.46 |
| Weekly | $616.73 |
| Hourly | $15.42 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $32,070 salary, see how much house you can afford in Ohio 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $35,670 | 12,200 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $35,190 | 440 |
| Mansfield, OH | $34,940 | 100 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $34,630 | 130 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $34,040 | 110 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $33,540 | 220 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $33,400 | 120 |
| Kokomo, IN | $32,860 | 80 |
| Sandusky, OH | $32,710 | 190 |
| Columbus, IN | $32,340 | 40 |
| Columbus, OH | $32,250 | 2,550 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $31,960 | 1,360 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $31,780 | 1,690 |
| Akron, OH | $31,210 | 920 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $31,200 | 1,150 |
| Muncie, IN | $30,510 | 70 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $30,430 | 400 |
| Evansville, IN | $30,360 | 120 |
| Cleveland, OH | $30,350 | 3,230 |
| Lima, OH | $30,080 | 130 |
| Toledo, OH | $30,060 | 790 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $29,990 | 140 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $29,800 | 210 |
| Owensboro, KY | $29,600 | 70 |
| Springfield, OH | $29,360 | 160 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $28,960 | 110 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $28,790 | 400 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $27,890 | 580 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $27,510 | 120 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $26,890 | 80 |
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 Ohio statewide figures.
Related jobs in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,720 | $14.29 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,530 | $17.56 |
| Bartender | $34,240 | $16.46 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,030 | $17.32 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,370 | $18.45 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,930 | $13.91 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,180 | $17.87 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,350 | $14.11 |
| Dishwasher | $30,740 | $14.78 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,890 | $14.37 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $56,620 | $27.22 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $32,180 | $15.47 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $28,090 | $13.50 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
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 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area is $32,070 a year, or $15.42 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn at least $38,190 a year. The top 25% earn $36,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,820 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $29,120 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
About 3,490 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.