How much does a Server make?

The average salary for a Server is $46,078 per year in United States. Salaries estimates are based on 70186 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Server employees in United States.

The highest salary for a Server in United States is $60,507 per year.

The lowest salary for a Server in United States is $35,531 per year.

If you are thinking of becoming a Server or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of a Server.

Employment as a server offers income and flexibility to candidates without any formal education requirements. While median hourly pay is in line with, or below, minimum wage, successful servers can earn large tips. Servers can increase their pay by moving to luxury establishments, where tips are generally higher. Servers with at least a high school diploma can further increase their salaries by progressing into restaurant manager roles. Additionally, servers often receive non-monetary perks such as free meals from their restaurants.

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An estimated 62% of servers feel good about their pay, according to Glassdoor's anonymous employee ratings. Job flexibility, the potential to earn up to $11,046.21 in additional income through tips and profit sharing every year, and advancement potential all contribute to server salary satisfaction.

A server's annual pay is heavily influenced by location, establishment, and tips earned in a given day. Overall, pay ranges between $28,140.78 and $76,680.17, depending on experience level, with average earnings of $46,077.94 following the typical server career path. Building up some experience can allow you to explore a job as a lead server, which comes with a higher potential pay.

To earn a higher server salary, choose a niche and gain professional experience in the field. Niches include fine dining, family dining, fast/casual, hotel dining, and banquet dining. If you want to excel as a professional in five-star restaurants, for instance, start in local fine dining restaurants or hotels and continue your career path from there. You should always demonstrate excellent customer service skills, teamwork, food and beverage knowledge, urgency, and attention to detail, so master these job-specific skills. Both location and establishment impact tips, so consider relocating to a higher-end establishment or a city or state with a higher level of pay.

How can you negotiate for a higher salary in your server job? Factor in your experience level. Every role counts, and this includes all front-of-the-house restaurant positions, such as hosts/hostesses, bussers, runners, and server assistants. The more experience you have, the greater an asset you are and the more money you'll be paid. Also, consider how you align with a specific restaurant's needs; if your experience is in small casual establishments, and you're interested in a bustling five-star restaurant, for instance, that gap gives you less negotiating power. You can also negotiate for more PTO or more flexible work hours.