SOC 35-3041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — South Florida
South Florida nonmetropolitan area · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in South Florida, FL is $31,380 a year, trailing the national median of $35,360 by 11.3%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in South Florida, FL is $31,380 a year, trailing the national median of $35,360 by 11.3%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $28,950 and $38,060. The lowest tenth earn under $27,040, while the highest tenth earn more than $40,010.
The area has 160 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.99 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Naples records the highest median at $35,310. Of the 284 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 275th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,040 | −23.5% |
| 25th | $28,950 | −18.1% |
| Median (50th) | $31,380 | −11.3% |
| 75th | $38,060 | +7.6% |
| 90th | $40,010 | +13.2% |
| Mean | $34,890 | −1.3% |
Other metro areas in Florida
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naples | $35,310 | 630 | |
| 2 | Miami | $34,950 | 4,980 | |
| 3 | Cape Coral | $34,800 | 670 | |
| 4 | Tampa | $34,480 | 2,470 | |
| 5 | Jacksonville | $34,410 | 1,150 | |
| 6 | Gainesville | $34,310 | 230 | |
| 7 | Crestview | $34,060 | 170 | |
| 8 | North Port | $33,970 | 990 | |
| 9 | Port St. Lucie | $33,970 | 360 | |
| 10 | Lakeland | $33,670 | 400 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in South Florida run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $31,380 buys what $30,348 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 14.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$31,380as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$30,348US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $31,380 a year, 11.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $27,040 to $40,010 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 160 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Naples, at $35,310.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in South Florida, FL?
The median annual wage is $31,380, or $15.09 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 South Florida, FL is 11.3% lower. 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 South Florida, FL earns more than $40,010 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $27,040 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 Naples, at $35,310 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 160 jobs in this occupation in South Florida, FL. 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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