Server Salary By State: Highest-Paid Servers by State [2026]
Research Summary. After thorough research by the Zippia data science team, we have compiled the latest insights on server salaries across the United States for 2026:
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New York boasts the highest server salary at $36,333.
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Louisiana reports the lowest server salary at $20,657.
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The national average salary for servers is $29,901.
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The current national hourly pay for servers stands at $14.38.
For more information, you can review our specific methodology.
Background
In numerous surveys, salary remains the top priority for job seekers across various demographics—especially for those in the service industry. If you’re wondering how much servers earn in your area, we have the data you need.
While your earnings may vary based on location and experience, these averages provide a solid foundation for understanding what to expect from your salary as a server.
New York leads the pack with the best salary for servers.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for server salaries:
Let’s delve into the details and explore the complete ranking across all states.
Highest-Paid Servers By State
| Rank | State | Average Server Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $36,333 | $24,000 | $52,000 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $36,211 | $25,000 | $51,000 |
| 3 | Vermont | $35,964 | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| 4 | California | $34,392 | $23,000 | $50,000 |
| 5 | Washington | $33,958 | $23,000 | $49,000 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $32,712 | $22,000 | $47,000 |
| 7 | Oregon | $32,456 | $22,000 | $47,000 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $31,860 | $21,000 | $46,000 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $31,758 | $21,000 | $45,000 |
| 10 | Maine | $31,180 | $22,000 | $42,000 |
| 11 | Arizona | $30,663 | $21,000 | $44,000 |
| 12 | Maryland | $30,542 | $20,000 | $44,000 |
| 13 | Delaware | $29,806 | $20,000 | $43,000 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $29,566 | $20,000 | $43,000 |
| 15 | Hawaii | $29,032 | $20,000 | $41,000 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $28,521 | $20,000 | $40,000 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $28,367 | $19,000 | $41,000 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $28,351 | $19,000 | $42,000 |
| 19 | Michigan | $27,801 | $18,000 | $40,000 |
| 20 | Virginia | $27,584 | $18,000 | $40,000 |
| 21 | Colorado | $27,491 | $18,000 | $40,000 |
| 22 | Nevada | $25,707 | $17,000 | $37,000 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $25,552 | $17,000 | $37,000 |
| 24 | Missouri | $25,394 | $17,000 | $37,000 |
| 25 | Illinois | $24,886 | $16,000 | $36,000 |
| 26 | Alaska | $24,865 | $17,000 | $35,000 |
| 27 | Idaho | $24,650 | $16,000 | $35,000 |
| 28 | Ohio | $24,304 | $16,000 | $35,000 |
| 29 | Utah | $24,169 | $16,000 | $35,000 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $23,933 | $16,000 | $34,000 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $23,922 | $16,000 | $34,000 |
| 32 | Kansas | $23,718 | $16,000 | $34,000 |
| 33 | Florida | $23,627 | $16,000 | $34,000 |
| 34 | Georgia | $23,554 | $16,000 | $33,000 |
| 35 | Indiana | $23,552 | $16,000 | $34,000 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $23,463 | $16,000 | $33,000 |
| 37 | Texas | $23,294 | $15,000 | $34,000 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $23,219 | $15,000 | $33,000 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $23,122 | $15,000 | $33,000 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $22,666 | $15,000 | $32,000 |
| 41 | Iowa | $22,311 | $15,000 | $32,000 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $22,303 | $15,000 | $33,000 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $22,262 | $15,000 | $32,000 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $22,121 | $15,000 | $31,000 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $21,866 | $14,000 | $32,000 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $21,723 | $14,000 | $31,000 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $21,654 | $14,000 | $31,000 |
| 48 | Alabama | $21,595 | $14,000 | $31,000 |
| 49 | Montana | $20,840 | $14,000 | $30,000 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $20,657 | $14,000 | $30,000 |
Methodology: Server Salary By State
To gain insights into server pay by state, Zippia aggregates data from various reliable sources including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Labor Commission (FLC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This data is further enhanced with actual salary listings from job postings, providing a weighted average that reflects current pay trends for servers by state.
We analyzed average annual salary data for servers from these estimates to create a comprehensive ranking of every state based on the highest average salary for servers.
Server Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for servers?
The highest-paid state for servers is New York with an average salary of $36,333 per year.
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What city pays servers the most?
Washington, DC pays servers the most with an average salary of $40,480 per year.
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What is the worst state for servers?
The lowest-paying state for servers is Louisiana with an average salary of $20,657 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
