Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,970 a year or less, while the top 10% make $48,110 or more. The middle half of food servers, nonrestaurant in Boston earn between $35,630 and $39,040.
- $34K10th
- $36K25th
- $37KMedian
- $39K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,950 | $3,246 | $18.73 |
| Median | $37,330 | $3,111 | $17.95 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,630 | $2,969 | $17.13 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $39,040 | $3,253 | $18.77 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Food servers, nonrestaurant in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($38,520) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($36,140). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $38,950 | $37,330 | $33,970 | $48,110 | 4,370 |
| Massachusetts | $38,520 | $36,750 | $33,990 | $47,630 | 5,830 |
| 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 Boston
On the average salary of $38,950, a single filer in Boston takes home about $31,849 a year, or $2,654 a month and $1,225 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $33,476 | $2,790 |
| Working in MA | $31,849 | $2,654 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for food servers, nonrestaurant? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $38,950 buys what about $35,976 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 19.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 2nd of 6 Massachusetts metro areas for this job; Barnstable pays the most ($40,520).
- Barnstable$40,520
- Boston$38,950
- Worcester$37,040
- Pittsfield$36,550
- Amherst$35,950
- Springfield$35,930
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 Boston: questions
How much do food servers, nonrestaurant make an hour in Boston?
$18.72 an hour on average, and $17.95 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food servers, nonrestaurant salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,970 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,630, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food servers, nonrestaurant take-home pay in Boston?
About $31,849 a year ($2,654 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,950. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do food servers, nonrestaurant earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% more 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.85, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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