Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median of $35,170 a year ($16.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,210 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,840 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $35,360. Pay here is 3% higher than the Michigan statewide median of $34,260. There are 1.7 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $34,430, close to the median.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,510 | $14.19 |
| 25th percentile | $30,810 | $14.81 |
| Median | $35,170 | $16.91 |
| 75th percentile | $37,300 | $17.93 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| Average (mean) | $34,430 | $16.55 |
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 | $2,930.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,465.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,352.69 |
| Weekly | $676.35 |
| Hourly | $16.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $35,170 salary, see how much house you can afford in Michigan 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Saginaw, MI | $37,030 | 290 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $36,710 | 270 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $36,250 | 180 |
| Traverse City, MI | $35,070 | 140 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $34,880 | 280 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $34,700 | 430 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $34,170 | 360 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $32,770 | 1,160 |
| Bay City, MI | $32,370 | 70 |
| Niles, MI | $31,840 | 110 |
| Jackson, MI | $30,090 | 80 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $29,800 | 210 |
| Flint, MI | $29,710 | 170 |
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 Michigan statewide figures.
Related jobs in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,590 | $14.23 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $37,490 | $18.02 |
| Bartender | $36,780 | $17.68 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,410 | $17.98 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,570 | $18.54 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,060 | $15.90 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,760 | $14.79 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,810 | $14.33 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,290 | $14.08 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,360 | $17.96 |
| Dishwasher | $34,350 | $16.51 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,870 | $29.27 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,630 | $17.13 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,100 | $16.88 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $35,170 a year, or $16.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,840 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn at least $37,840 a year. The top 25% earn $37,300 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,510 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $30,810 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI?
About 3,210 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area, not counting the self-employed.