Waiters and Waitressessalary
Official wage statistics for waiters and waitresses in United States, published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)), reference period May 2025. Approximately 2.27M people work in this occupation.
Wage distribution
| Percentile | Annual |
|---|---|
| 10th percentileentry / lowest decile | $18,100 |
| 25th percentilelower quartile | $27,750 |
| Median (50th)typical worker | $35,230 |
| 75th percentileupper quartile | $47,110 |
| 90th percentiletop decile | $64,720 |
| Meanaverage, skews high | $40,060 |
Salary by state
Waiters and Waitresses wages vary widely by state. Official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates, May 2025, sorted by median. Suppressed areas omitted.
| State | Median (annual) | P10–P90 / low–high | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| HIHawaii | $62,390 | $29,120 – $119,870 | 14,090 |
| VTVermont | $59,140 | $29,690 – $89,330 | 4,040 |
| WAWashington | $56,130 | $36,710 – $94,930 | 45,400 |
| OROregon | $48,410 | $31,200 – $77,620 | 23,040 |
| DCDistrict of Columbia | $47,850 | $36,400 – $100,240 | 11,530 |
| NYNew York | $47,020 | $33,540 – $83,210 | 142,940 |
| NJNew Jersey | $44,960 | $32,220 – $78,510 | 55,800 |
| COColorado | $44,860 | $30,800 – $78,160 | 40,680 |
| VAVirginia | $44,760 | $28,270 – $74,130 | 59,370 |
| AZArizona | $43,950 | $30,580 – $78,920 | 55,950 |
| MEMaine | $43,370 | $30,490 – $82,930 | 9,090 |
| MAMassachusetts | $38,460 | $31,790 – $62,200 | 54,670 |
| NHNew Hampshire | $38,430 | $21,060 – $72,810 | 10,030 |
| CTConnecticut | $37,770 | $34,010 – $72,060 | 22,370 |
| MIMichigan | $37,760 | $25,960 – $64,350 | 65,090 |
| NMNew Mexico | $36,920 | $26,670 – $69,410 | 12,740 |
| DEDelaware | $36,880 | $31,200 – $62,000 | 7,580 |
| MDMaryland | $36,750 | $31,200 – $62,210 | 38,120 |
| OHOhio | $36,700 | $23,820 – $63,740 | 77,250 |
| VIVirgin Islands | $36,340 | $23,200 – $80,510 | 690 |
| FLFlorida | $36,150 | $27,230 – $63,580 | 207,180 |
| KSKansas | $36,120 | $17,370 – $62,890 | 19,480 |
| CACalifornia | $36,080 | $34,320 – $68,950 | 229,970 |
| RIRhode Island | $35,420 | $31,200 – $62,680 | 10,160 |
| WVWest Virginia | $35,380 | $20,230 – $60,560 | 8,600 |
| PAPennsylvania | $34,690 | $18,400 – $61,780 | 82,300 |
| NENebraska | $33,770 | $28,080 – $59,420 | 13,310 |
| NCNorth Carolina | $32,150 | $17,140 – $62,670 | 71,940 |
| ILIllinois | $31,200 | $31,200 – $49,470 | 72,900 |
| UTUtah | $31,150 | $18,550 – $60,320 | 17,790 |
| NDNorth Dakota | $30,890 | $18,470 – $60,570 | 5,250 |
| IDIdaho | $30,050 | $16,770 – $62,220 | 10,950 |
| WIWisconsin | $29,670 | $16,830 – $61,770 | 36,220 |
| KYKentucky | $29,660 | $16,520 – $62,030 | 27,150 |
| MOMissouri | $29,400 | $28,600 – $61,440 | 41,640 |
| SDSouth Dakota | $28,990 | $27,030 – $37,290 | 7,350 |
| INIndiana | $28,480 | $17,640 – $48,350 | 43,620 |
| TNTennessee | $27,760 | $15,080 – $47,660 | 52,120 |
| ALAlabama | $26,840 | $16,550 – $36,090 | 28,760 |
| NVNevada | $26,410 | $24,960 – $50,140 | 42,520 |
| AKAlaska | $26,310 | $24,770 – $64,080 | 3,830 |
| MNMinnesota | $25,470 | $23,150 – $41,800 | 37,630 |
| ARArkansas | $24,680 | $23,040 – $43,810 | 17,880 |
| WYWyoming | $23,920 | $18,000 – $56,260 | 3,620 |
| MTMontana | $23,370 | $21,940 – $45,420 | 7,200 |
| TXTexas | $23,240 | $17,070 – $47,590 | 199,610 |
| PRPuerto Rico | $22,790 | $21,840 – $44,140 | 12,260 |
| MSMississippi | $21,370 | $15,330 – $39,420 | 15,190 |
| IAIowa | $21,000 | $15,080 – $47,980 | 22,410 |
| GUGuam | $20,320 | $19,920 – $23,170 | 1,550 |
| GAGeorgia | $18,700 | $15,080 – $46,860 | 76,470 |
| SCSouth Carolina | $18,370 | $15,080 – $46,820 | 47,200 |
| OKOklahoma | $17,910 | $15,230 – $47,630 | 27,000 |
| LALouisiana | $15,080 | $15,080 – $38,060 | 33,870 |
Frequently asked
The median waiters and waitresses in United States earns $35,230 per year (reference period May 2025). Earnings typically range from $18,100 (10th percentile or low) to $64,720 (90th percentile or high). These are official statistics published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (SOC 2018 code 35-3031). FedSalary republishes official statistics only; no self-reported or crowdsourced figures. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates 2,270,910 people employed in this occupation in United States (May 2025).
Approximately EUR 32,027 · GBP 27,740 per year (mid-market snapshot 2026-05-02). The authoritative native figure is $35,230. FX conversion is informational only.