SOC 35-3041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — Bakersfield
Bakersfield-Delano, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Bakersfield, CA is $37,140 per year, close to the national median of $35,360 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Bakersfield, CA is $37,140 per year, close to the national median of $35,360 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $34,720 and $45,260. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $34,320 and the ninetieth at $48,350.
Employment stands at 490, or 1.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, San Jose records the highest median at $46,210. Of the 474 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 434th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,320 | −2.9% |
| 25th | $34,720 | −1.8% |
| Median (50th) | $37,140 | +5.0% |
| 75th | $45,260 | +28.0% |
| 90th | $48,350 | +36.7% |
| Mean | $40,150 | +13.5% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $46,210 | 1,960 | |
| 2 | Hanford | $45,030 | 50 | |
| 3 | San Francisco | $44,710 | 4,160 | |
| 4 | Napa | $41,850 | 240 | |
| 5 | Santa Rosa | $40,180 | 520 | |
| 6 | Vallejo | $38,910 | 300 | |
| 7 | Santa Maria | $38,740 | 450 | |
| 8 | Salinas | $38,660 | 400 | |
| 9 | Sacramento | $38,460 | 1,980 | |
| 10 | Los Angeles | $38,350 | 11,850 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Bakersfield run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $37,140 buys what $33,550 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 5.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$37,140as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$33,550US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $37,140 a year, 5.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,320 to $48,350 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 490 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $46,210.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Bakersfield, CA?
The median annual wage is $37,140, or $17.85 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $35,360, so pay in Bakersfield, CA is 5.0% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Bakersfield, CA earns more than $48,350 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,320 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Jose, at $46,210 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 490 jobs in this occupation in Bakersfield, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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