Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
SOC code 35-3041 · O*NET-SOC 35-3041.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Food service and hospitality
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$35,360
a year
Hourly
$17.00
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$36,140
$17.37 per hour
Middle 50%
$31,190 – $38,500
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$28,030 – $46,120
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
293,900
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $28,030
- $13.48/hr
- 25th percentile
- $31,190
- $14.99/hr
- Median percentile
- $35,360
- $17.00/hr
- 75th percentile
- $38,500
- $18.51/hr
- 90th percentile
- $46,120
- $22.17/hr
What do food servers, nonrestaurant do?
Serve food to individuals outside of a restaurant environment, such as in hotel rooms, hospital rooms, residential care facilities, or cars.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Place food servings on plates or trays according to orders or instructions.
- Clean or sterilize dishes, kitchen utensils, equipment, or facilities.
- Monitor food distribution, ensuring that meals are delivered to the correct recipients and that guidelines, such as those for special diets, are followed.
- Examine trays to ensure that they contain required items.
- Load trays with accessories, such as eating utensils, napkins, or condiments.
- Take food orders and relay orders to kitchens or serving counters so they can be filled.
- Total checks, present them to customers, and accept payment for services.
- Monitor food preparation or serving techniques to ensure that proper procedures are followed.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 48% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)48%
- Less than a High School Diploma27%
- Some College Courses9%
- Post-Doctoral Training7%
Common questions
How much does a food servers, nonrestaurant earn?
The national median is $35,360 a year. The full range runs from $28,030 at the 10th percentile to $46,120 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a food servers, nonrestaurant without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening3.0/5
- Speaking3.0/5
- Reading Comprehension2.9/5
- Critical Thinking2.9/5
- Monitoring2.8/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service3.6/5
- English Language3.6/5
- Food Production3.0/5
- Administration and Management3.0/5
- Education and Training2.9/5
- Public Safety and Security2.9/5
- Mathematics2.8/5
- Psychology2.5/5
Transferable strengths: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Time Management, Judgment and Decision Making.