How much does a waiter and waitress make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $16.94 an hour or $2,936 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.94
- Average (mean)
- $40,060
- Jobs
- 2,270,910
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $18,100 | $8.70 | |
| 25th | $27,750 | $13.34 | |
| Median | $35,230 | $16.94 | |
| 75th | $47,110 | $22.65 | |
| 90th | $64,720 | $31.12 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| 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 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Kahului, HI | $82,550 |
| Burlington, VT | $61,620 |
| 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 |
In other countries
Waiter and Waitress belongs to the international group "Waiters".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Bartender$34,340
- Fast Food and Counter Worker$31,200
- Food Server$35,360
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $16.94 ($35,230 a year).
How much does a waiter and waitress make a month?
About $2,936 a month before tax, based on a median of $35,230 a year.
How much does a waiter and waitress make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $18,100 or less a year ($8.70 an hour); the top 10% make $64,720 or more.
Which state pays waiter and waitresss the most?
Hawaii, with a median of $62,390 a year, followed by Vermont ($59,140) and Washington ($56,130).
Which city pays waiter and waitresss the most?
Kahului-Wailuku, HI, with a median of $82,550 a year.
How many waiter and waitresss are there in the United States?
About 2,270,910 people work as waiter and waitresss.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.