Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Virginia
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Virginia earn a median of $35,090 a year ($16.87 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,420 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,930 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $35,360. Virginia ranks 21st of 51 states for food servers, nonrestaurant pay. There are 1.8 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $35,590, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,040 | $13.96 |
| 25th percentile | $30,630 | $14.73 |
| Median | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| 75th percentile | $36,960 | $17.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,930 | $20.64 |
| Average (mean) | $35,590 | $17.11 |
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 | $2,924.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,462.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,349.62 |
| Weekly | $674.81 |
| Hourly | $16.87 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $35,090 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 cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $37,540 | 5,760 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $35,000 | 100 |
| Richmond, VA | $34,960 | 1,250 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $30,110 | $14.48 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $44,760 | $21.52 |
| Bartender | $47,070 | $22.63 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,550 | $21.90 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,900 | $16.78 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| Dishwasher | $33,130 | $15.93 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $32,410 | $15.58 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,890 | $18.22 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,490 | $14.66 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,270 | $30.42 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,870 | $17.25 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in Virginia is $35,090 a year, or $16.87 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,930 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Virginia?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in Virginia earn at least $42,930 a year. The top 25% earn $36,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,040 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $30,630 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Virginia?
About 7,420 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.