Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Richmond, VA
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median of $34,960 a year ($16.81 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,250 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $40,130 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $35,360. Pay here is about the same as the Virginia statewide median of $35,090. There are 1.9 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $35,250, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Richmond, VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,290 | $14.08 |
| 25th percentile | $31,240 | $15.02 |
| Median | $34,960 | $16.81 |
| 75th percentile | $37,350 | $17.96 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $40,130 | $19.29 |
| Average (mean) | $35,250 | $16.95 |
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 | $2,913.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,456.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,344.62 |
| Weekly | $672.31 |
| Hourly | $16.81 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $34,960 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $37,540 | 5,760 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $35,000 | 100 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $34,940 | 110 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $34,710 | 1,490 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $34,250 | 280 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $34,010 | 290 |
| Roanoke, VA | $32,010 | 360 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $31,710 | 210 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $31,330 | 150 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $28,430 | 140 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Richmond, VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,500 | $14.19 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $38,470 | $18.50 |
| Bartender | $46,070 | $22.15 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,080 | $17.83 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,580 | $21.91 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,650 | $16.18 |
| Dishwasher | $31,370 | $15.08 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,980 | $14.41 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,480 | $14.18 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,140 | $17.86 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,570 | $14.22 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $59,730 | $28.72 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,280 | $14.08 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $33,980 | $16.34 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Richmond, VA
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 Richmond, VA?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in the Richmond, VA metro area is $34,960 a year, or $16.81 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $40,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Richmond, VA?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in the Richmond, VA metro area earn at least $40,130 a year. The top 25% earn $37,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Richmond, VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,290 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $31,240 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Richmond, VA?
About 1,250 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the Richmond, VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.