How much does a food runner make?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics groups this role under Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers (SOC 35-9011). In its May 2025 wage survey, the national median was $16.34 an hour, or about $33,980 a year for full-time work, across roughly 542,750 people employed nationally. The middle of the market sits between $10.24 at the 10th percentile and $22.39 at the 90th.
Food Runner pay in Boston
In the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area, the median for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers was $16.72 an hour ($34,780a year), reflecting Massachusetts' higher minimum wage and cost of living.
What moves the number
Food runner pay depends on the market, the restaurant's type and volume, and whether the runner is paid hourly plus a tip share. In many places, runners earn a share of servers' tips, which can make a busy restaurant more lucrative than the base rate suggests. Experience and menu knowledge can lead to better pay or a move to serving.
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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