How much does a waiter and waitress make in New York?
$47,610a year
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area. That is $22.89 an hour or $3,968 a month.
- Hourly
- $22.89
- Vs. national median
- +35%
- Rank among cities
- 23 of 392
- Jobs in the area
- 138,720
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $33,810Median: $47,610Highest 10%: $95,610
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $33,810 | $16.25 | |
| 25th | $35,310 | $16.98 | |
| Median | $47,610 | $22.89 | |
| 75th | $64,480 | $31.00 | |
| 90th | $95,610 | $45.97 |
Other cities in New York
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss.
| Albany, NY | $48,980 |
| Syracuse, NY | $47,640 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | $46,950 |
| Binghamton, NY | $46,600 |
| Buffalo, NY | $46,580 |
| Kingston, NY | $46,440 |
| Elmira, NY | $46,160 |
| Ithaca, NY | $46,090 |
| Utica, NY | $45,950 |
| Rochester, NY | $45,310 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $43,900 |
| Watertown, NY | $38,590 |
Related jobs in New York
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $71,780 |
| Bartender | $61,220 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $48,690 |
| Cook | $46,870 |
| Cook | $43,740 |
| Cook | $42,630 |
| Food Server | $39,120 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $36,980 |
| Host and Hostess | $36,500 |
| Cook | $35,780 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make an hour in New York?
The median hourly pay in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $22.89 ($47,610 a year).
Do waiter and waitresss make more in New York than the national average?
Yes: $47,610 against $35,230 nationally, 35% more.
How does New York compare with the rest of New York?
The median in New York is $47,020, so New York pays 1% more.
Where does New York rank for waiter and waitress pay?
23 of 392 metro areas with data.
How much does a waiter and waitress make starting out in New York?
The lowest-paid 10% make $33,810 or less a year; the top 10% make $95,610 or more.
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.