Highest-paying states for waiters and waitresses
Hawaii leads at $62,390 a year. Pay is not adjusted for local prices; see each page for the cost-of-living view.
| Place | Median | 25th–75th |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $62,390 | $30,090–$96,010 |
| Vermont | $59,140 | $34,840–$78,520 |
| Washington | $56,130 | $45,910–$73,840 |
| Oregon | $48,410 | $35,240–$63,620 |
| District of Columbia | $47,850 | $36,400–$78,520 |
| New York | $47,020 | $34,520–$64,480 |
| New Jersey | $44,960 | $35,710–$56,410 |
| Colorado | $44,860 | $32,610–$66,360 |
| Virginia | $44,760 | $32,760–$56,430 |
| Arizona | $43,950 | $33,850–$63,020 |
| Maine | $43,370 | $32,860–$62,910 |
| Massachusetts | $38,460 | $35,290–$45,700 |
| New Hampshire | $38,430 | $30,030–$51,320 |
| Connecticut | $37,770 | $35,230–$48,250 |
| Michigan | $37,760 | $29,350–$58,550 |
| New Mexico | $36,920 | $28,570–$56,940 |
| Delaware | $36,880 | $31,200–$46,400 |
| Maryland | $36,750 | $32,820–$47,720 |
| Ohio | $36,700 | $28,990–$48,170 |
| Florida | $36,150 | $28,550–$47,590 |
| Kansas | $36,120 | $26,830–$47,690 |
| California | $36,080 | $34,900–$39,870 |
| Rhode Island | $35,420 | $31,200–$50,840 |
| West Virginia | $35,380 | $22,800–$47,430 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,690 | $24,490–$46,790 |
| Nebraska | $33,770 | $28,340–$46,710 |
| North Carolina | $32,150 | $20,800–$48,550 |
| Illinois | $31,200 | $31,200–$32,720 |
| Utah | $31,150 | $22,470–$48,330 |
| North Dakota | $30,890 | $21,930–$44,960 |
| Idaho | $30,050 | $18,040–$46,390 |
| Wisconsin | $29,670 | $21,000–$43,150 |
| Kentucky | $29,660 | $18,170–$45,710 |
| Missouri | $29,400 | $28,600–$40,150 |
| South Dakota | $28,990 | $27,910–$30,640 |
| Indiana | $28,480 | $20,870–$36,550 |
| Tennessee | $27,760 | $16,790–$37,380 |
| Alabama | $26,840 | $20,320–$28,900 |
| Nevada | $26,410 | $24,960–$34,160 |
| Alaska | $26,310 | $25,290–$29,540 |
| Minnesota | $25,470 | $23,370–$31,940 |
| Arkansas | $24,680 | $23,430–$30,450 |
| Wyoming | $23,920 | $20,800–$38,030 |
| Montana | $23,370 | $22,290–$28,960 |
| Texas | $23,240 | $17,950–$37,230 |
| Mississippi | $21,370 | $16,210–$29,300 |
| Iowa | $21,000 | $15,080–$35,370 |
| Georgia | $18,700 | $15,080–$35,850 |
| South Carolina | $18,370 | $16,980–$29,910 |
| Oklahoma | $17,910 | $16,550–$28,450 |
| Louisiana | $15,080 | $15,080–$23,350 |
Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025.