How much does a Food Service Worker make?

Updated Dec 5, 2023

Experience

Industry

Total Pay Range
$33K - $45K/yr
Base Pay
$31K - $41K/yr
Additional Pay
$2K - $4K/yr

$38K

/yr
$33K$45K
Most Likely Range

The estimated total pay for a Food Service Worker is $38,154 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $35,530 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is $2,624 per year. Additional pay could include cash bonus, commission, tips, and profit sharing. The "Most Likely Range" represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role.

How accurate is this most likely Total Pay range (base + additional) of $33K-$45K/yr?

Total Pay Trajectory

For Food Service Worker

$38,154 /yr
Food Service Worker
$44,072 /yr
Senior Food Service Worker
$40,790 /yr
Lead Food Service Worker
See Full Career Path

Download as data table

What is the total pay trajectory for Food Service Worker?

Job TitleSalary
Food Service Worker$38,154 /yr
Senior Food Service Worker$44,072 /yr
Lead Food Service Worker$40,790 /yr

Related Job Titles

For Food Service Worker

Some related job titles are Cook Salaries with median pay of $40,985, Food Service Manager Salaries with median pay of $53,956, Food Service Supervisor Salaries with median pay of $44,059, Prep Cook Salaries with median pay of $39,288.

Top Paying Companies

For a Food Service Worker in United States

Below is the total pay for the top 10 highest paying companies for a Food Service Worker in United States. Employers include UCLA Health, UC Davis Health and Stanford Health Care.

1
UCLA Health
UCLA Health
$41,026/yr
2K open jobs
See pay for all companies for a Food Service Worker in United StatesView data as table

Top Paying Companies

For Food Service Worker in United States

1UCLA Health$41,026
2UC Davis Health$40,741
3Stanford Health Care$40,261
4Dignity Health$38,888
5US Department of Veterans Affairs$38,350
6San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance$37,694
7UCLA$37,508
8Vapotherm$37,440
9Loma Linda University Health$37,343
10Providence$37,228
Total Pay Trajectory

For Food Service Worker

$38,154 /yr
Food Service Worker
$44,072 /yr
Senior Food Service Worker
$40,790 /yr
Lead Food Service Worker
See Full Career Path

Download as data table

What is the total pay trajectory for Food Service Worker?

Job TitleSalary
Food Service Worker$38,154 /yr
Senior Food Service Worker$44,072 /yr
Lead Food Service Worker$40,790 /yr

What are total pay estimates for a Food Service Worker at different companies?

or
Sort:
Company
Jobs
Total Pay Range
Aramark
3.3
Food Service WorkerSee 646 salaries from this location

$15

 / hr
Sodexo
3.3
Food Service WorkerSee 417 salaries from this location

$15

 / hr
McDonald's
3.5
Food Service WorkerSee 365 salaries from this location

$15

 / hr
Trinity Services Group
3.2
Food Service WorkerSee 154 salaries from this location

$15

 / hr
Taco Bell
3.5
Food Service WorkerSee 127 salaries from this location

$14

 / hr
TKC HOLDINGS
3.8
Food Service WorkerSee 121 salaries from this location

$15

 / hr
Chipotle
3.4
Food Service WorkerSee 94 salaries from this location

$15

 / hr

Is this salary info helpful?

Let’s pay it forward! The Glassdoor community relies on people like you to share accurate salary info to promote fair compensation everywhere

Share Salary Anonymously
Buc-ee's
3
Food Service WorkerSee 93 salaries from this location

$17

 / hr
Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services
3.5
Food Service WorkerSee 93 salaries from this location

$15

 / hr
Chick-fil-A
4
Food Service WorkerSee 90 salaries from this location

$14

 / hr
Compass Group
3.4
Food Service WorkerSee 89 salaries from this location

$15

 / hr
IKEA
3.6
Food Service WorkerSee 84 salaries from this location

$16

 / hr
Target
3.5
Food Service WorkerSee 81 salaries from this location

$15

 / hr
Six Flags
3.4
Food Service WorkerSee 80 salaries from this location

$14

 / hr
Compass Group USA
3.6
Food Service WorkerSee 79 salaries from this location

$16

 / hr
Costco Wholesale
3.9
Food Service WorkerSee 77 salaries from this location

$18

 / hr
Subway
3.4
Food Service WorkerSee 77 salaries from this location

$14

 / hr
Walt Disney Company
3.9
Food Service WorkerSee 69 salaries from this location

$17

 / hr
Disneyland Resort
3.7
Food Service WorkerSee 69 salaries from this location

$15

 / hr
Army and Air Force Exchange
3.3
Food Service WorkerSee 65 salaries from this location

$15

 / hr
Download as data table

Food Service Worker Salaries

Job TitleSalary
Aramark Food Service Worker salaries - 646 salaries reported$15/hr
Sodexo Food Service Worker salaries - 417 salaries reported$15/hr
McDonald's Food Service Worker salaries - 365 salaries reported$15/hr
Trinity Services Group Food Service Worker salaries - 154 salaries reported$15/hr
Taco Bell Food Service Worker salaries - 127 salaries reported$14/hr
TKC HOLDINGS Food Service Worker salaries - 121 salaries reported$15/hr
Chipotle Food Service Worker salaries - 94 salaries reported$15/hr
Buc-ee's Food Service Worker salaries - 93 salaries reported$17/hr
Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services Food Service Worker salaries - 93 salaries reported$15/hr
Chick-fil-A Food Service Worker salaries - 90 salaries reported$14/hr
Compass Group Food Service Worker salaries - 89 salaries reported$15/hr
IKEA Food Service Worker salaries - 84 salaries reported$16/hr
Target Food Service Worker salaries - 81 salaries reported$15/hr
Six Flags Food Service Worker salaries - 80 salaries reported$14/hr
Compass Group USA Food Service Worker salaries - 79 salaries reported$16/hr
Costco Wholesale Food Service Worker salaries - 77 salaries reported$18/hr
Subway Food Service Worker salaries - 77 salaries reported$14/hr
Walt Disney Company Food Service Worker salaries - 69 salaries reported$17/hr
Disneyland Resort Food Service Worker salaries - 69 salaries reported$15/hr
Army and Air Force Exchange Food Service Worker salaries - 65 salaries reported$15/hr
Viewing 1 - 20 of 3,280

Top Paying Industries

For a Food Service Worker in United States

The top 5 paying industries for a Food Service Worker in United States are Government & Public Administration with a median total pay of $37,694, Information Technology with a median total pay of $35,007, Healthcare with a median total pay of $34,015, Media & Communication with a median total pay of $33,943, and Manufacturing with a median total pay of $33,892.

IndustryTotal PayTotal Pay Insight
  • Government & Public AdministrationGovernment & Public Administration$37,694

    16% Higher than other industries

  • Information TechnologyInformation Technology$35,007

    9% Higher than other industries

  • HealthcareHealthcare$34,015

    7% Higher than other industries

  • Media & CommunicationMedia & Communication$33,943

    6% Higher than other industries

  • ManufacturingManufacturing$33,892

    6% Higher than other industries

Government & Public Administration

Top paying companies in Government & Public Administration for Food Service Worker are US Department of Veterans Affairs, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, and US Army.

US Department of Veterans AffairsUS Department of Veterans Affairs$38,350/yr
US ArmyUS Army$36,551/yr

Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview

What is the pay outlook for Retail & Food Services?

Job openings are high in retail and food services as more Americans spend money at stores and restaurants. While retail and food services wages are lower than the national average, wage growth is higher. Jobs in retail and food services generally require little formal education or training, making these jobs accessible to most job seekers.

Recent Salaries Shared

For food service worker

Salary Share
Anonymously share your pay to help the community

Job Title

Location

Total Pay

Base Pay | Additional Pay

Total Years of Experience

Years at Recent Employer

Submitted

Date or Time

Food Service Worker

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$15

/hr

Submitted Yesterday

1-3 years
Yesterday
Togo Specialist

United States of America

 | 15+ years

$18

/hr

Submitted Yesterday

15+ years
Yesterday
Togo Specialist

United States of America

 | 4-6 years

$115,212

/hr

$12 | $115K

Submitted Yesterday

4-6 years
Yesterday
Sandwich Artist

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$14

/hr

Submitted Yesterday

1-3 years
Yesterday
Sandwich Maker

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$9

/hr

Submitted Yesterday

1-3 years
Yesterday
Icecream Scooper

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$5

/hr

Submitted Yesterday

1-3 years
Yesterday
Cafeteria Worker

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$2,038

/mo

Submitted Yesterday

1-3 years
Yesterday
Runner

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$20

/hr

Submitted Yesterday

1-3 years
Yesterday
Sandwich Artist

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$17

/hr

Submitted Yesterday

1-3 years
Yesterday

Food Service Worker pay FAQ

The average salary for a Food Service Worker is $38,154 per year in United States. Salaries estimates are based on 9781 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Food Service Worker employees in United States.

The highest salary for a Food Service Worker in United States is $44,801 per year.

The lowest salary for a Food Service Worker in United States is $32,662 per year.

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

Employment as a food service worker offers income and flexibility to candidates without any formal education requirements. While median hourly pay is usually in line with minimum wage, successful food service workers can move into waiter or waitress roles, with the chance to earn large tips, or even restaurant manager roles if one earns a high school diploma.

Powered by Glassdoor Economic Research

According to anonymous Glassdoor ratings, 59% of food service workers report satisfaction with their salaries. With tips, bonuses, and profit sharing, you could earn an average of an additional $2,623.75 per year, which might qualify food service employment as a well-paying job.

You can earn more money in your food service worker career by taking overtime hours. For overtime, some employers pay your hourly wage plus 50% more. You can also get bonuses from working on holidays. Working during busy periods and providing excellent service increases your possibility of earning large tips. Going back to school and earning your associate degree could make you more valuable to employers. As you gain experience, you might be able to score high-paying jobs because employers won't have to train you on everything. Additionally, learning new skills could open you up to more hours and positions.

When you interview for food service worker jobs, point out your years of experience to show employers that you aren't hopping jobs every few months. Many food service workers leave after a short time, making loyal employees invaluable. If you have an associate degree, highlight your relevant education. You could also point out that you have open availability so employers don't have to work around a tight schedule. Mention your in-demand skills, such as serving customers, working as a host or hostess, and preparing food. This can show employers that you're a versatile employee who doesn't need extra training for everything.

Additional Resources

Food Service Worker Job Description Template

Salaries

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