Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Maryland
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Maryland earn a median of $36,650 a year ($17.62 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,600 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,930 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $35,360. Maryland ranks 13th of 51 states for food servers, nonrestaurant pay. There are 2.4 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $37,060, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Maryland
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| 25th percentile | $34,450 | $16.56 |
| Median | $36,650 | $17.62 |
| 75th percentile | $38,660 | $18.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,930 | $20.64 |
| Average (mean) | $37,060 | $17.82 |
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 | $3,054.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,527.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,409.62 |
| Weekly | $704.81 |
| Hourly | $17.62 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $36,650 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 cities in Maryland
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $37,540 | 5,760 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $36,650 | 120 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $35,710 | 3,540 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Maryland
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,660 | $16.18 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| Bartender | $37,580 | $18.07 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $42,450 | $20.41 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,820 | $18.19 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,500 | $17.07 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,320 | $16.02 |
| Dishwasher | $34,030 | $16.36 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,860 | $16.76 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $37,500 | $18.03 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $41,380 | $19.89 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,800 | $17.69 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,590 | $29.61 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Maryland
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 Maryland?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in Maryland is $36,650 a year, or $17.62 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,930 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Maryland?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in Maryland earn at least $42,930 a year. The top 25% earn $38,660 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Maryland?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,840 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $34,450 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Maryland?
About 6,600 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in Maryland, not counting the self-employed.