Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Kentucky

Food servers, nonrestaurant in Kentucky earn the most in Louisville (average $33,290 a year) and the least in Lexington ($30,900), across the 4 Kentucky metro areas we cover. Statewide, BLS puts the food servers, nonrestaurant average at $32,750 and the median at $32,200 for 3,660 workers. The U.S. average for this job is $36,140.

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant average salary by city in Kentucky

Louisville$33,290
Bowling Green$32,020
Owensboro$30,950
Lexington$30,900

Pay, take-home pay and cost of living

City	Average	Median	25th pct.	Take-home*	Cost of living
Louisville	$33,290	$31,780	$27,970	$27,149	93
Bowling Green	$32,020	$34,040	$26,300	$26,265	90
Owensboro	$30,950	$29,600	$28,200	$25,532	89
Lexington	$30,900	$30,430	$27,260	$25,194	93

*Average salary after federal and state taxes for a single filer; includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%). Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other states

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary by city and state

More about pay in Kentucky

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.
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.

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