LocalSalaryHub Salary Report
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in San Diego, CA · Generated June 14, 2026
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in San Diego, CA $38,260/yr
$38,260
Mean: $41,400
~$29,843 est. take-home
$18.39
Based on 2,080 hrs/yr
100
100 = national avg
Difficult
Affordability score: 13/100
$137/mo
5%
Salary Distribution
Where the median falls between the 25th and 75th percentile.
25th %
$36,510
Median
$38,260
75th %
$43,050
Median is in the 27th percentile of the typical range
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in other CA cities
Compare the same occupation across cities in CA.
About Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salaries in San Diego, CA
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in San Diego, CA earn a median of $38,260 per year, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. The mean salary is $41,400, which tends to skew higher because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Most food servers, nonrestaurant in this area earn between $36,510 and $43,050. Where you land depends on experience, employer type, and whether you have in-demand specializations.
That works out to roughly $18.39 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year. Actual hourly pay may differ for part-time or contract roles.
Career Outlook
This occupation is tracking close to the national average for job growth. Openings come from a mix of new positions and people retiring or changing careers, with regional variation depending on local industry mix.
Worth knowing: Staying current with industry certifications and picking up adjacent skills (data literacy, project management, or automation tools) is the most reliable way to earn above median in this field.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Jobs in San Diego, CA
Median: $38,260/yr — browse openings that fit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a food servers, nonrestaurant in San Diego?▾
The median — where half earn more and half earn less — is $38,260. The average (mean) is $41,400, which is higher because top earners pull it up.
How much does a food servers, nonrestaurant make per hour in San Diego?▾
About $18.39/hour, based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. Part-time or overtime hours will change the actual rate.
What is the salary range for food servers, nonrestaurant in San Diego?▾
The middle 50% earn between $36,510 and $43,050. Below $36,510 is typically entry-level; above $43,050 usually means significant experience or specialized skills.
Salary Conversion Table
How does $38,260 per year break down across different time periods?
| Period | Gross | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly | $38,260 | $29,843 |
| Monthly | $3,188 | $2,487 |
| Biweekly | $1,472 | $1,148 |
| Weekly | $736 | $574 |
| Hourly (40h/wk) | $18.39 | $14.35 |
| Hourly (35h/wk) | $21.02 | $16.4 |
| Hourly (30h/wk) | $24.53 | $19.13 |
| Daily (8h) | $147 | $115 |
Take-home estimates use an effective tax rate of 22%. Actual amounts vary by filing status, deductions, and state tax.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant: Highest-Paying Cities in the U.S.
Top 10 cities nationwide for food servers, nonrestaurant, based on BLS median salary data.
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See more salary data
More pages tied to this occupation and region.
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salaries nationwide — the national median and the highest-paying metros for food servers, nonrestaurant across all states.
- All CA salary data — every occupation we cover in CA, ranked by median pay, plus the cities that pay the most.
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Kahului, HI — the top-paying city for food servers, nonrestaurant in our dataset, in case you are weighing a move out of San Diego.
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers salary overview — a closely related role (same SOC major group) with a national median of $40,976.