Waiters and Waitresses salary
The median pay for waiters and waitresses in the United States is $35,230 a year. About 2,270,910 people hold this job.
- 10th percentile
- $18,100
- 25th percentile
- $27,750
- Median percentile
- $35,230
- 75th percentile
- $47,110
- 90th percentile
- $64,720
Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience. BLS does not report experience, so reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only a rough guide. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025.
How to become: education, skills and job outlook
Highest-paying states · Highest-paying cities
By state
- Hawaii $62,390
- Vermont $59,140
- Washington $56,130
- Oregon $48,410
- District of Columbia $47,850
- New York $47,020
- New Jersey $44,960
- Colorado $44,860
- Virginia $44,760
- Arizona $43,950
- Maine $43,370
- Massachusetts $38,460
- New Hampshire $38,430
- Connecticut $37,770
- Michigan $37,760
- New Mexico $36,920
- Delaware $36,880
- Maryland $36,750
- Ohio $36,700
- Florida $36,150
- Kansas $36,120
- California $36,080
- Rhode Island $35,420
- West Virginia $35,380
- Pennsylvania $34,690
- Nebraska $33,770
- North Carolina $32,150
- Illinois $31,200
- Utah $31,150
- North Dakota $30,890
- Idaho $30,050
- Wisconsin $29,670
- Kentucky $29,660
- Missouri $29,400
- South Dakota $28,990
- Indiana $28,480
- Tennessee $27,760
- Alabama $26,840
- Nevada $26,410
- Alaska $26,310
- Minnesota $25,470
- Arkansas $24,680
- Wyoming $23,920
- Montana $23,370
- Texas $23,240
- Mississippi $21,370
- Iowa $21,000
- Georgia $18,700
- South Carolina $18,370
- Oklahoma $17,910
- Louisiana $15,080
By metro area
- Kahului, HI $82,550
- Burlington, VT $61,620
- Urban Honolulu, HI $60,250
- Seattle, WA $57,280
- Walla Walla, WA $56,730
- Bellingham, WA $56,700
- Bremerton, WA $55,270
- Longview, WA $54,870
- Portland, OR $54,780
- Mount Vernon, WA $53,060
- Olympia, WA $53,000
- Kennewick, WA $51,460
- Bend, OR $50,480
- Medford, OR $50,440
- Boulder, CO $49,870
- Wenatchee, WA $49,820
- Yakima, WA $49,060
- Albany, NY $48,980
- Grants Pass, OR $48,950
- Salem, OR $48,720
- Spokane, WA $48,560
- Syracuse, NY $47,640
- New York, NY $47,610
- Phoenix, AZ $47,530
- Albany, OR $47,440
- Fort Collins, CO $47,360
- Kiryas Joel, NY $46,950
- Santa Fe, NM $46,640
- Binghamton, NY $46,600
- Corvallis, OR $46,600
- Buffalo, NY $46,580
- Greeley, CO $46,480
- Kingston, NY $46,440
- Colorado Springs, CO $46,230
- Elmira, NY $46,160
- Ithaca, NY $46,090
- Washington, DC $46,040
- Utica, NY $45,950
- Bangor, ME $45,610
- Pueblo, CO $45,500
- Rochester, NY $45,310
- Muskegon, MI $44,920
- Harrisonburg, VA $44,760
- Portland, ME $44,070
- Charlottesville, VA $44,030
- Flint, MI $44,030
- Glens Falls, NY $43,900
- Grand Junction, CO $43,730
- Lewiston, ME $43,130
- Eugene, OR $42,930
- Grand Rapids, MI $42,930
- San Jose, CA $41,920
- Traverse City, MI $41,380
- Bay City, MI $40,500
- Ann Arbor, MI $40,230
- Jackson, MI $39,920
- Denver, CO $39,650
- Saginaw, MI $39,430
- Boston, MA $39,270
- Virginia Beach, VA $39,020
- San Francisco, CA $38,860
- Bridgeport, CT $38,820
- Monroe, MI $38,780
- Las Cruces, NM $38,670
- Watertown, NY $38,590
- Richmond, VA $38,470
- Manchester, NH $38,430
- Barnstable Town, MA $38,380
- Lansing, MI $38,210
- Atlantic City, NJ $38,160
- Niles, MI $38,130
- Trenton, NJ $38,070
- Albuquerque, NM $38,050
- Staunton, VA $37,910
- New Haven, CT $37,900
- Norwich, CT $37,880
- Kalamazoo, MI $37,760
- Midland, MI $37,750
- Winchester, VA $37,680
- Blacksburg, VA $37,670
- Naples, FL $37,550
- Columbus, OH $37,490
- Detroit, MI $37,490
- Roanoke, VA $37,380
- Crestview, FL $37,370
- Wichita, KS $37,300
- Lawrence, KS $37,230
- Farmington, NM $37,210
- Hartford, CT $37,200
- Napa, CA $37,130
- Flagstaff, AZ $37,080
- Tampa, FL $37,070
- Charleston, WV $36,900
- Waterbury, CT $36,890
- Worcester, MA $36,840
- Santa Rosa, CA $36,830
- Vineland, NJ $36,800
- Lynchburg, VA $36,780
- Lima, OH $36,720
- Palm Bay, FL $36,670
- Prescott Valley, AZ $36,670
- Cape Coral, FL $36,660
- North Port, FL $36,660
- Amherst Town, MA $36,650
- Jacksonville, FL $36,630
- Vallejo, CA $36,610
- Dayton, OH $36,600
- Philadelphia, PA $36,570
- Cincinnati, OH $36,530
- Tucson, AZ $36,490
- Charlotte, NC $36,430
- Battle Creek, MI $36,370
- Lake Havasu City, AZ $36,370
- Punta Gorda, FL $36,360
- Wildwood, FL $36,340
- Cleveland, OH $36,260
- Port St. Lucie, FL $36,250
- Lewiston, ID $36,240
- Canton, OH $36,210
- Baltimore, MD $36,170