Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,630 a year or less, while the top 10% make $67,400 or more. The middle half of food servers, nonrestaurant in San Francisco earn between $41,170 and $54,750.
- $39K10th
- $41K25th
- $45KMedian
- $55K75th
- $67K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $48,600 | $4,050 | $23.37 |
| Median | $44,710 | $3,726 | $21.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $41,170 | $3,431 | $19.79 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $54,750 | $4,562 | $26.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Food servers, nonrestaurant in San Francisco earn 12% more than the California average ($43,580) and 34% more than the U.S. average ($36,140). At the median the gap is +26% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $48,600 | $44,710 | $38,630 | $67,400 | 4,160 |
| California | $43,580 | $39,010 | $35,120 | $57,550 | 32,430 |
| United States | $36,140 | $35,360 | $28,030 | $46,120 | 293,900 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $48,600, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $40,122 a year, or $3,343 a month and $1,543 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for food servers, nonrestaurant? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $48,600 buys what about $42,037 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 23.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 2nd of 24 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($50,590).
- San Jose$50,590
- San Francisco$48,600
- Napa$48,550
- Vallejo$46,710
- Sacramento$44,510
- Hanford$44,210
- Santa Rosa$43,510
- Los Angeles$42,740
- San Luis Obispo$42,460
- Salinas$42,430
Highest-paying cities for food servers, nonrestaurant
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($59,020).
- Kahului, HI$59,020
- San Jose, CA$50,590
- San Francisco, CA$48,600
- Napa, CA$48,550
- Vallejo, CA$46,710
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do food servers, nonrestaurant make an hour in San Francisco?
$23.36 an hour on average, and $21.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food servers, nonrestaurant salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,630 a year and the 25th percentile is $41,170, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food servers, nonrestaurant take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $40,122 a year ($3,343 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $48,600. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do food servers, nonrestaurant earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 34% more than the U.S. average for this job ($36,140).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3041; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.93, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.