SOC 35-3041 · Johnson City, TN metro

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Johnson City, TN

The average salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in Johnson City, Tennessee is $27,700 a year ($13.32 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $27,050: half of the 110 people in this job in the Johnson City, TN metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 23% less than the U.S. average for this job ($36,140).

$27,700average per year

$13.32 / hourMedian $27,050Take-home ≈ $24,421

  • $19K10th
  • $24K25th
  • $27KMedian
  • $30K75th
  • $35K90th

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

110people in this job
-23%vs U.S. average
#9 of 9Tennessee metros
88cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay range in Johnson City

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $19,170 a year or less, while the top 10% make $34,570 or more. The middle half of food servers, nonrestaurant in Johnson City earn between $23,760 and $30,310.

  • $19K10th
  • $24K25th
  • $27KMedian
  • $30K75th
  • $35K90th

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

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$27,700$2,308$13.32
Median$27,050$2,254$13.00
Entry level (25th percentile)$23,760$1,980$11.42
Experienced (75th percentile)$30,310$2,526$14.57

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

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in Johnson City vs. Tennessee and the U.S.

Food servers, nonrestaurant in Johnson City earn 15% less than the Tennessee average ($32,590) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($36,140). At the median the gap is -24% against the U.S. median of $35,360.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Johnson City$27,700$27,050$19,170$34,570110
Tennessee$32,590$30,670$22,620$46,7505,230
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 Johnson City

On the average salary of $27,700, a single filer in Johnson City takes home about $24,421 a year, or $2,035 a month and $939 every two weeks. Taxes take 12% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.

Tennessee paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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

Prices in the Johnson City area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.9), so the average $27,700 buys what about $31,503 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Johnson City ($43,480). A typical home costs $282,532, or 10.2 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $27,700 is worth in another city

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other Tennessee cities

Johnson City ranks 9th of 9 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($35,250).

All Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salaries in Tennessee

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 Johnson City: questions

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

$13.32 an hour on average, and $13.01 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

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

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $19,170 a year and the 25th percentile is $23,760, a fair guide to starting pay.

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

About $24,421 a year ($2,035 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $27,700. Tennessee has no state income tax.

Do food servers, nonrestaurant earn more in Johnson City than elsewhere?

The average here is 23% 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 Johnson City, TN (27740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
  • 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 0.72, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.72).

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