How much does a banquet server make?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics groups this role under Food Servers, Nonrestaurant (SOC 35-3041). In its May 2025 wage survey, the national median was $17.00 an hour, or about $35,360 a year for full-time work, across roughly 293,900 people employed nationally. The middle of the market sits between $13.48 at the 10th percentile and $22.17 at the 90th.
Banquet Server pay in Boston
In the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area, the median for nonrestaurant food servers was $17.95 an hour ($37,330a year), reflecting Massachusetts' higher minimum wage and cost of living.
What moves the number
Banquet server pay combines an hourly wage with a share of the event gratuity or service charge, which depends on the size and price of the event. Hotels, upscale venues, and busy wedding seasons tend to offer more hours and higher earnings. Experience, availability, and reliability can lead to more event assignments.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. BLS figures for tipped roles may not capture all tip income. The BLS category is the closest official match for this role, not an exact one.
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