The Surprising Truth About Server Salaries
Have you ever stopped to consider how much servers actually make? I certainly did when I landed my first full-time job in advertising and realized I wasn’t earning much more than I did as a server during college. In fact, I was making less, and it felt like a rude awakening.
Breaking Down Entry-Level Salaries
Looking back at my first full-time job, I earned $37,000 per year, which translates to $17.78 per hour. Many of my friends in LA and NYC, working entry-level jobs in industries like advertising, media planning, PR, publishing, fashion, writing, and sales, made between $30,000 – $40,000 per year. Not bad, but not exactly life-changing either.
The Benefits of Serving
As a server, I had the potential to earn much more. At my last serving job, I could make up to $25 per hour on a good night, bringing my earnings to around $200 per night. I’ve also spoken to colleagues who served in major cities like Washington D.C., where they could earn upwards of $300 per night working a closing shift.
Comparing Salaries
Let’s crunch some numbers. If I worked 40 hours per week as an entry-level employee, I’d make around $720 per week, plus an additional $135 for 5 hours of overtime. That’s a total of $855 per week before taxes. As a server, I could potentially earn $1,000 per week working in a major city, which translates to a yearly salary of around $52,000. Of course, that’s not counting vacation days or sick leave, which would bring the total down to around $50,000 per year.
Upward Mobility and Benefits
While entry-level jobs may offer more structured career paths, serving has its own advantages. Career servers can move up to better restaurants, increasing their salary by up to $25 per hour. Some even go on to join management teams. And, depending on the restaurant, serving can come with benefits like health insurance.
The Bottom Line
It’s clear that serving can be a lucrative career path, especially for those who excel in the industry. Of course, it’s not for everyone, and some may prefer the structure and stability of a 9-5 job. But for those willing to put in the work, serving can offer a surprising level of financial stability and upward mobility.
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