Salaries › Food Server (Non-Restaurant) › California
Food Server (Non-Restaurant) Salary in California (2026)
$18.75 per hour · take-home ≈ $32,822/year ($2,735/month) for a single filer
Food Server (Non-Restaurant) pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $35,120 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $36,650 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $39,010 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $46,900 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $57,550 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 32,430 Food Server (Non-Restaurant) jobs in California (occupation code 35-3041, “Food Servers, Nonrestaurant”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Food Server (Non-Restaurant) salary of $39,010 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $32,822 — an effective tax rate of 15.9%.
| Gross (median) | $39,010 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,501 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,984 |
| California state income tax | −$703 |
| Take-home (annual) | $32,822 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,735 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Food Server (Non-Restaurant) make in California?
- The median Food Server (Non-Restaurant) salary in California is $39,010 per year ($18.75 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $36,650 and $46,900.
- What is the take-home pay for a Food Server (Non-Restaurant) in California?
- On the median salary of $39,010, a single filer in California takes home about $32,822 per year ($2,735 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 15.9%.
- How many Food Server (Non-Restaurant) jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 32,430 Food Server (Non-Restaurant) jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Food Server (Non-Restaurant)s
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.