Best cities for a food server
The best cities for food servers are Seattle, WA, Cleveland, OH, and Louisville, KY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for food servers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for food servers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a food server or considering a move, this list of the best cities for food servers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for food servers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a food server. While the absolute best city for food servers is Seattle, WA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for food servers in 2024.
If you're looking for a food server job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for food servers in 2026
1. Seattle, WA
Food server jobs in SeattleTotal food server jobs: 52 Average annual salary: $28,852 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location quotient: 2.44 2. Cleveland, OH
Food server jobs in ClevelandTotal food server jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $22,446 Lowest 10 percent warn: $16,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Location quotient: 2.00 3. Louisville, KY
Food server jobs in LouisvilleTotal food server jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $22,202 Lowest 10 percent warn: $16,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Location quotient: 1.58 4. Fort Wayne, IN
Food server jobs in Fort WayneTotal food server jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $21,857 Lowest 10 percent warn: $16,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Location quotient: 2.04 5. Las Vegas, NV
Food server jobs in Las VegasTotal food server jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $22,191 Lowest 10 percent warn: $16,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Location quotient: 4.88 6. Philadelphia, PA
Food server jobs in PhiladelphiaTotal food server jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $26,549 Lowest 10 percent warn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Location quotient: 0.82 7. North Las Vegas, NV
Food server jobs in North Las VegasTotal food server jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $22,170 Lowest 10 percent warn: $16,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Location quotient: 14.50 8. Stockton, CA
Food server jobs in StocktonTotal food server jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $30,496 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 1.12 9. Henderson, NV
Food server jobs in HendersonTotal food server jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $22,172 Lowest 10 percent warn: $16,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Location quotient: 4.28 10. Minneapolis, MN
Food server jobs in MinneapolisTotal food server jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $26,124 Lowest 10 percent warn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Location quotient: 0.84
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Best cities for food servers
- Seattle, WA
- Cleveland, OH
- Louisville, KY
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Las Vegas, NV
- Philadelphia, PA
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Stockton, CA
- Henderson, NV
- Minneapolis, MN
Detailed list of the best cities for a food server
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $28,852 | $22,000 | 704,352 | 52 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $22,446 | $16,000 | 385,809 | 8 |
| 3 | Louisville, KY | $22,202 | $16,000 | 597,337 | 7 |
| 4 | Fort Wayne, IN | $21,857 | $16,000 | 264,488 | 3 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $22,191 | $16,000 | 632,912 | 29 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $26,549 | $19,000 | 1,567,872 | 10 |
| 7 | North Las Vegas, NV | $22,170 | $16,000 | 238,702 | 4 |
| 8 | Stockton, CA | $30,496 | $23,000 | 307,072 | 1 |
| 9 | Henderson, NV | $22,172 | $16,000 | 292,969 | 3 |
| 10 | Minneapolis, MN | $26,124 | $20,000 | 413,651 | 8 |
| 11 | Buffalo, NY | $28,388 | $21,000 | 256,902 | 4 |
| 12 | Gilbert, AZ | $22,764 | $16,000 | 237,133 | 3 |
| 13 | Bakersfield, CA | $30,242 | $22,000 | 376,380 | 1 |
| 14 | Albuquerque, NM | $23,988 | $17,000 | 559,277 | 6 |
| 15 | San Diego, CA | $29,709 | $22,000 | 1,406,630 | 19 |
| 16 | Chandler, AZ | $22,771 | $16,000 | 247,477 | 4 |
| 17 | Fremont, CA | $30,585 | $23,000 | 233,136 | 3 |
| 18 | Cincinnati, OH | $22,227 | $16,000 | 298,800 | 3 |
| 19 | Reno, NV | $22,491 | $17,000 | 245,255 | 43 |
| 20 | Nashville, TN | $23,149 | $17,000 | 660,388 | 2 |
| 21 | Oakland, CA | $30,600 | $23,000 | 420,005 | 1 |
| 22 | Irvine, CA | $29,890 | $22,000 | 266,122 | 6 |
| 23 | Tulsa, OK | $23,190 | $17,000 | 403,090 | 3 |
| 24 | Indianapolis, IN | $21,795 | $16,000 | 855,164 | 8 |
| 25 | Sacramento, CA | $30,454 | $23,000 | 495,234 | 3 |
| 26 | Scottsdale, AZ | $22,783 | $16,000 | 246,645 | 3 |
| 27 | San Francisco, CA | $30,619 | $23,000 | 870,887 | 9 |
| 28 | Long Beach, CA | $29,940 | $22,000 | 470,130 | 1 |
| 29 | Boston, MA | $30,925 | $24,000 | 673,184 | 3 |
| 30 | San Jose, CA | $30,582 | $23,000 | 1,025,350 | 5 |
| 31 | Tucson, AZ | $22,664 | $16,000 | 530,706 | 3 |
| 32 | Raleigh, NC | $22,716 | $16,000 | 458,880 | 2 |
| 33 | Los Angeles, CA | $30,005 | $22,000 | 3,976,322 | 8 |
| 34 | Pittsburgh, PA | $26,235 | $19,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 35 | Toledo, OH | $22,393 | $16,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 36 | Memphis, TN | $23,115 | $17,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 37 | Saint Paul, MN | $26,127 | $20,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 38 | Oklahoma City, OK | $23,182 | $17,000 | 638,367 | 4 |
| 39 | Columbus, OH | $22,282 | $16,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 40 | Charlotte, NC | $22,695 | $16,000 | 842,051 | 3 |
| 41 | Fresno, CA | $30,375 | $22,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 42 | Orlando, FL | $21,738 | $16,000 | 277,173 | 6 |
| 43 | New Orleans, LA | $21,376 | $15,000 | 391,495 | 6 |
| 44 | Lexington, KY | $22,196 | $16,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 45 | Winston-Salem, NC | $22,731 | $16,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 46 | Greensboro, NC | $22,729 | $16,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 47 | Durham, NC | $22,725 | $16,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 48 | Brookhaven, NY | $28,568 | $21,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 49 | Atlanta, GA | $23,041 | $16,000 | 472,522 | 5 |
| 50 | Islip, NY | $28,505 | $21,000 | 335,543 | - |
Highest paying cities for food servers
| Rank | City | Avg. food server salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $30,005 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $28,852 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $28,413 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $26,549 |
| 5 | Springfield, VA | $25,764 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $24,926 |
| 7 | Montclair, NJ | $23,965 |
| 8 | Salt Lake City, UT | $23,738 |
| 9 | Broomfield, CO | $23,498 |
| 10 | Des Moines, IA | $23,281 |
| 11 | Chandler, AZ | $22,771 |
| 12 | Raleigh, NC | $22,716 |
| 13 | Carson City, NV | $22,516 |
| 14 | Cleveland, OH | $22,446 |
| 15 | Severn, MD | $21,789 |
| 16 | Boca Raton, FL | $21,694 |
| 17 | Washington, DC | $21,532 |
| 18 | Baton Rouge, LA | $21,388 |
| 19 | Saint Louis, MO | $20,289 |
| 20 | Dallas, TX | $20,259 |
Food server best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025