Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay range in Detroit
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $37,840 or more. The middle half of food servers, nonrestaurant in Detroit earn between $30,810 and $37,300.
- $30K10th
- $31K25th
- $35KMedian
- $37K75th
- $38K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,430 | $2,869 | $16.55 |
| Median | $35,170 | $2,931 | $16.91 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,810 | $2,568 | $14.81 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,300 | $3,108 | $17.93 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in Detroit vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Food servers, nonrestaurant in Detroit earn about the same as the Michigan average ($33,930) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($36,140). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $34,430 | $35,170 | $29,510 | $37,840 | 3,210 |
| Michigan | $33,930 | $34,260 | $28,730 | $38,180 | 7,700 |
| 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 Detroit
On the average salary of $34,430, a single filer in Detroit takes home about $27,941 a year, or $2,328 a month and $1,075 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Is Detroit a good place for food servers, nonrestaurant? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Detroit area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.3), so the average $34,430 buys what about $34,328 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Detroit ($52,080). A typical home costs $269,080, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other Michigan cities
Detroit ranks 5th of 13 Michigan metro areas for this job; Battle Creek pays the most ($36,850).
- Battle Creek$36,850
- Saginaw$35,590
- Kalamazoo$35,240
- Muskegon$34,570
- Detroit$34,430
- Traverse City$34,150
- Lansing$33,570
- Ann Arbor$33,450
- Bay City$32,950
- Grand Rapids$32,940
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 Detroit: questions
How much do food servers, nonrestaurant make an hour in Detroit?
$16.55 an hour on average, and $16.91 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food servers, nonrestaurant salary in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,810, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food servers, nonrestaurant take-home pay in Detroit?
About $27,941 a year ($2,328 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,430. Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Do food servers, nonrestaurant earn more in Detroit than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (19820). 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 state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.89, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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