SOC 35-3041 · Stockton-Lodi, CA metro

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Stockton, CA

The average salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in Stockton, California is $41,480 a year ($19.94 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $37,380: half of the 500 people in this job in the Stockton-Lodi, CA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 15% more than the U.S. average for this job ($36,140).

$41,480average per year

$19.94 / hourMedian $37,380Take-home ≈ $34,714

  • $34K10th
  • $36K25th
  • $37KMedian
  • $42K75th
  • $54K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

500people in this job
+15%vs U.S. average
#13 of 24California metros
105cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay range in Stockton

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $54,200 or more. The middle half of food servers, nonrestaurant in Stockton earn between $35,570 and $41,690.

  • $34K10th
  • $36K25th
  • $37KMedian
  • $42K75th
  • $54K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$41,480$3,457$19.94
Median$37,380$3,115$17.97
Entry level (25th percentile)$35,570$2,964$17.10
Experienced (75th percentile)$41,690$3,474$20.04

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in Stockton vs. California and the U.S.

Food servers, nonrestaurant in Stockton earn 5% less than the California average ($43,580) and 15% more than the U.S. average ($36,140). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $35,360.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Stockton$41,480$37,380$34,320$54,200500
California$43,580$39,010$35,120$57,55032,430
United States$36,140$35,360$28,030$46,120293,900

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary after taxes in Stockton

On the average salary of $41,480, a single filer in Stockton takes home about $34,714 a year, or $2,893 a month and $1,335 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% 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.

California paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Stockton a good place for food servers, nonrestaurant? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Stockton area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.1), so the average $41,480 buys what about $39,471 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Stockton ($48,990). A typical home costs $531,785, or 12.8 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $41,480 is worth in another city

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other California cities

Stockton ranks 13th of 24 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($50,590).

All Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salaries in California

Highest-paying cities for food servers, nonrestaurant

Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($59,020).

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary by city

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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Stockton: questions

How much do food servers, nonrestaurant make an hour in Stockton?

$19.94 an hour on average, and $17.97 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level food servers, nonrestaurant salary in Stockton?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,570, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the food servers, nonrestaurant take-home pay in Stockton?

About $34,714 a year ($2,893 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,480. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

Do food servers, nonrestaurant earn more in Stockton than elsewhere?

The average here is 15% 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 Stockton-Lodi, CA (44700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
  • 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 0.92, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.

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