Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,270 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,560 or more. The middle half of food servers, nonrestaurant in Memphis earn between $28,130 and $34,570.
- $23K10th
- $28K25th
- $31KMedian
- $35K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $32,430 | $2,702 | $15.59 |
| Median | $31,080 | $2,590 | $14.94 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,130 | $2,344 | $13.52 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $34,570 | $2,881 | $16.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Food servers, nonrestaurant in Memphis earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($32,590) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($36,140). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $32,430 | $31,080 | $23,270 | $46,560 | 820 |
| Tennessee | $32,590 | $30,670 | $22,620 | $46,750 | 5,230 |
| 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 Memphis
On the average salary of $32,430, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $28,238 a year, or $2,353 a month and $1,086 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $28,238 | $2,353 |
| Working in MS | $27,672 | $2,306 |
| Working in AR | $27,526 | $2,294 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for food servers, nonrestaurant? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $32,430 buys what about $35,182 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 7.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 2nd of 9 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($35,250).
- Nashville$35,250
- Memphis$32,430
- Jackson$31,070
- Knoxville$30,730
- Chattanooga$30,620
- Cleveland$30,540
- Kingsport$29,850
- Clarksville$28,220
- Johnson City$27,700
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 Memphis: questions
How much do food servers, nonrestaurant make an hour in Memphis?
$15.59 an hour on average, and $14.94 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food servers, nonrestaurant salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,270 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food servers, nonrestaurant take-home pay in Memphis?
About $28,238 a year ($2,353 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $32,430. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do food servers, nonrestaurant earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). 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 0.71, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.71).
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