Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in New Jersey
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in New Jersey earn a median of $36,390 a year ($17.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 11,400 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,800 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $35,360. New Jersey ranks 15th of 51 states for food servers, nonrestaurant pay. There are 2.7 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $37,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| 25th percentile | $33,820 | $16.26 |
| Median | $36,390 | $17.50 |
| 75th percentile | $38,690 | $18.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,800 | $21.06 |
| Average (mean) | $37,180 | $17.88 |
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 | $3,032.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,516.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,399.62 |
| Weekly | $699.81 |
| Hourly | $17.50 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $36,390 salary, see how much house you can afford in New Jersey at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in cities in New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $39,120 | 19,450 |
| Vineland, NJ | $38,350 | 160 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $35,740 | 450 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $35,540 | 510 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $34,370 | 950 |
| 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 New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,150 | $16.42 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $44,960 | $21.62 |
| Bartender | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,420 | $23.28 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,170 | $16.43 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,050 | $16.37 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $74,280 | $35.71 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,520 | $21.40 |
| Dishwasher | $35,900 | $17.26 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,290 | $17.45 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $40,720 | $19.58 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in New Jersey
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in New Jersey is $36,390 a year, or $17.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,800 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in New Jersey earn at least $43,800 a year. The top 25% earn $38,690 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,220 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $33,820 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in New Jersey?
About 11,400 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.