Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay range in Lakeland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,750 a year or less, while the top 10% make $37,120 or more. The middle half of food servers, nonrestaurant in Lakeland earn between $30,950 and $35,760.
- $30K10th
- $31K25th
- $34KMedian
- $36K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,850 | $2,821 | $16.27 |
| Median | $33,670 | $2,806 | $16.19 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,950 | $2,579 | $14.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,760 | $2,980 | $17.19 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in Lakeland vs. Florida and the U.S.
Food servers, nonrestaurant in Lakeland earn about the same as the Florida average ($34,530) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($36,140). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland | $33,850 | $33,670 | $29,750 | $37,120 | 400 |
| Florida | $34,530 | $33,930 | $29,210 | $39,000 | 19,240 |
| 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 Lakeland
On the average salary of $33,850, a single filer in Lakeland takes home about $29,378 a year, or $2,448 a month and $1,130 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Lakeland a good place for food servers, nonrestaurant? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lakeland area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.1), so the average $33,850 buys what about $34,846 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Lakeland ($46,140). A typical home costs $298,816, or 8.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other Florida cities
Lakeland ranks 11th of 19 Florida metro areas for this job; Naples pays the most ($37,240).
- Naples$37,240
- Miami$35,560
- Port St. Lucie$34,740
- Tampa$34,730
- Jacksonville$34,560
- Fort Myers$34,540
- Sarasota$34,460
- Crestview$34,040
- Orlando$34,030
- Lakeland$33,850
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
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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Lakeland: questions
How much do food servers, nonrestaurant make an hour in Lakeland?
$16.27 an hour on average, and $16.19 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food servers, nonrestaurant salary in Lakeland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,750 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,950, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food servers, nonrestaurant take-home pay in Lakeland?
About $29,378 a year ($2,448 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,850. Florida has no state income tax.
Do food servers, nonrestaurant earn more in Lakeland than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less 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 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL (29460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.79, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.79).
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