Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

In San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad (CA), the median pay for food servers, nonrestaurant is $18.39 an hour ($38,260 a year). About 3,400 people work in this job there.

$18.39Median hourly pay
$36,510–$43,050Middle half of workers, yearly
3,400People in this job in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad (CA)

That is 8% higher than the U.S. median ($35,360). It is 2% lower than the California median ($39,010).

Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad (CA)

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$16.94$35,240
25% of workers$17.55$36,510
Half of workers (median)$18.39$38,260
75% of workers$20.70$43,050
90% of workers$24.07$50,070

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in California metro areas

Metro areaMedian yearly payPeople in this job
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$46,2101,960
Hanford-Corcoran$45,03050
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$44,7104,160
Napa$41,850240
Santa Rosa-Petaluma$40,180520
Vallejo$38,910300
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara$38,740450
Salinas$38,660400
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom$38,4601,980
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim$38,35011,850
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad (this page)$38,2603,400
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles$38,150310
Modesto$38,010360
Santa Cruz-Watsonville$37,860170
Yuba City$37,66060
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura$37,480700
Chico$37,400130
Stockton-Lodi$37,380500
Bakersfield-Delano$37,140490
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$37,1202,290
Fresno$36,770830
Redding$35,740170
Visalia$35,680270
El Centro$35,59050

California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Education, experience and outlook for food servers, nonrestaurant

  • Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
  • Related work experience most have: Up to 1 month (O*NET)
  • Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
  • Job outlook: +4.5% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 48,800 openings a year (BLS)

Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad (CA)

JobMedian yearly pay
Fast Food and Counter Workers$42,190
Waiters and Waitresses$35,850
Cooks, Restaurant$46,440
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$35,960
Food Preparation Workers$38,780
Dishwashers$38,530
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$36,140
Food Service Managers$80,010

Other job titles for this job

Kitchen RunnerBoat HopCar AttendantCar HopCurb HopCurberDining Room ServerFood and Beverage ServerFood Cart AttendantFood Order Delivery RunnerFood PorterFood Service Hotel Runner

Open food servers, nonrestaurant jobs on JAI Bot

No open jobs in this field right now. Search all jobs or set up a free job alert.

Hiring food servers, nonrestaurant? Use the free hiring guide for a job description and interview questions, then post the job on JAI Bot. Every job shows typical pay to job seekers.

Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any job
Add this pay figure to your website (free)

Career sites, schools and workforce boards can show this typical pay on their own pages. Copy this code into your page:

<div data-jaibot-pay></div>
<script src="https://www.jaibot.ai/widget/pay/food-servers-nonrestaurant/california/san-diego-chula-vista-carlsbad.js" async></script>

It updates by itself when new government figures come out.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.