How much does a waiter and waitress make?
The median waiter and waitress in the United States earns $35,230 per year, about $16.94 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all waiters and waitresses earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 35-3031.
Waiter and waitress salary range
Pay for waiters and waitresses spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $18,100 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $64,720. The average (mean) wage of $40,060 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $18,100 | $8.70 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $27,750 | $13.34 | |
| Median (50th) | $35,230 | $16.94 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $47,110 | $22.65 | |
| 90th percentile | $64,720 | $31.12 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for waiters and waitresses (SOC 35-3031), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Waiter and waitress salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Waiters and waitresses earn the most in Hawaii at $62,390 a year, and the least in Louisiana at $15,080. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $62,390 | 14,090 |
| Vermont | $59,140 | 4,040 |
| Washington | $56,130 | 45,400 |
| Oregon | $48,410 | 23,040 |
| District of Columbia | $47,850 | 11,530 |
| New York | $47,020 | 142,940 |
| New Jersey | $44,960 | 55,800 |
| Colorado | $44,860 | 40,680 |
| Virginia | $44,760 | 59,370 |
| Arizona | $43,950 | 55,950 |
| Maine | $43,370 | 9,090 |
| Massachusetts | $38,460 | 54,670 |
| New Hampshire | $38,430 | 10,030 |
| Connecticut | $37,770 | 22,370 |
| Michigan | $37,760 | 65,090 |
| New Mexico | $36,920 | 12,740 |
| Delaware | $36,880 | 7,580 |
| Maryland | $36,750 | 38,120 |
| Ohio | $36,700 | 77,250 |
| Florida | $36,150 | 207,180 |
| Kansas | $36,120 | 19,480 |
| California | $36,080 | 229,970 |
| Rhode Island | $35,420 | 10,160 |
| West Virginia | $35,380 | 8,600 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,690 | 82,300 |
| Nebraska | $33,770 | 13,310 |
| North Carolina | $32,150 | 71,940 |
| Illinois | $31,200 | 72,900 |
| Utah | $31,150 | 17,790 |
| North Dakota | $30,890 | 5,250 |
| Idaho | $30,050 | 10,950 |
| Wisconsin | $29,670 | 36,220 |
| Kentucky | $29,660 | 27,150 |
| Missouri | $29,400 | 41,640 |
| South Dakota | $28,990 | 7,350 |
| Indiana | $28,480 | 43,620 |
| Tennessee | $27,760 | 52,120 |
| Alabama | $26,840 | 28,760 |
| Nevada | $26,410 | 42,520 |
| Alaska | $26,310 | 3,830 |
| Minnesota | $25,470 | 37,630 |
| Arkansas | $24,680 | 17,880 |
| Wyoming | $23,920 | 3,620 |
| Montana | $23,370 | 7,200 |
| Texas | $23,240 | 199,610 |
| Mississippi | $21,370 | 15,190 |
| Iowa | $21,000 | 22,410 |
| Georgia | $18,700 | 76,470 |
| South Carolina | $18,370 | 47,200 |
| Oklahoma | $17,910 | 27,000 |
| Louisiana | $15,080 | 33,870 |
State median wages for waiters and waitresses (SOC 35-3031), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for waiters and waitresses
The BLS projects employment of waiters and waitresses to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 2,284,400 jobs in 2025 moving toward 2,330,900 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 423,100 openings a year for waiters and waitresses. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a waiter and waitress
The typical entry-level education for waiters and waitresses is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a waiter and waitress earns
Employer, region, seniority, and in many cases tips shape take-home pay. Fine dining, large venues, and high cost cities lift the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Hawaii, $62,390) and the lowest (Louisiana, $15,080) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 2,270,910 people work as waiters and waitresses in the United States. At $35,230 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Waiter and waitress salary FAQ
How much does a waiter and waitress make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a waiter and waitress is $16.94. The middle half of waiters and waitresses earn between $13.34 and $22.65 per hour.
What is the highest waiter and waitress salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of waiters and waitresses earn more than $64,720 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a waiter and waitress make a year?
The median annual salary for a waiter and waitress is $35,230. The average (mean) wage of $40,060 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a waiter and waitress a well paid job?
At $35,230 a year, a waiter and waitress earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 2,270,910 people work as waiters and waitresses in the United States.
Which state pays waiters and waitresses the most?
Hawaii has the highest median salary for waiters and waitresses at $62,390 a year. Vermont ($59,140) and Washington ($56,130) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a waiter and waitress a good career?
Employment of waiters and waitresses is projected to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 423,100 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a waiter and waitress?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for waiters and waitresses as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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