Waiters and Waitresses
Waiters and Waitresses (SOC 35-3031) earn a median $35,230 a year ($16.94 an hour) in the United States, with 2,270,910 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Hawaii.
What waiters and waitresses do
Waiters and waitresses take orders and bring food and drinks to guests seated at tables in dining establishments. A server greets the table, writes down or enters the order, and passes it to the kitchen. During the meal they check with customers that they are enjoying their food and act to correct any problems. At the end they prepare the check, itemizing the cost of the meal and sales tax, and collect payment, and they check patrons' identification to confirm the minimum age for alcoholic beverages. Afterward they remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters, take them to the kitchen for cleaning, and clean the tables or counters. Counter servers at fast-food and quick-service places are classified separately, in 35-3023, so this code is for table service in dining establishments.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the usual education level (about 58 percent).
Also called: Banquet Server, Banquet Waiter, Banquet Waitress, Bar Waiter, Bar Waitress.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $8.70 | $13.34 | $16.94 | $22.65 | $31.12 | $19.26 | 2,270,910 |
| Annual | $18,100 | $27,750 | $35,230 | $47,110 | $64,720 | $40,060 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where waiters and waitresses earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $14.00 | $14.47 | $29.99 | $46.16 | $57.63 | $32.82 | 14,090 | 22.45 | 1.54 |
| Annual | $29,120 | $30,090 | $62,390 | $96,010 | $119,870 | $68,260 | ||||
| Vermont | Hourly | $14.28 | $16.75 | $28.43 | $37.75 | $42.95 | $28.29 | 4,040 | 13.29 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $29,690 | $34,840 | $59,140 | $78,520 | $89,330 | $58,850 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $17.65 | $22.07 | $26.98 | $35.50 | $45.64 | $29.13 | 45,400 | 12.79 | 0.88 |
| Annual | $36,710 | $45,910 | $56,130 | $73,840 | $94,930 | $60,590 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $15.00 | $16.94 | $23.27 | $30.59 | $37.32 | $25.19 | 23,040 | 11.72 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $31,200 | $35,240 | $48,410 | $63,620 | $77,620 | $52,400 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $17.50 | $17.50 | $23.01 | $37.75 | $48.19 | $28.61 | 11,530 | 16.42 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $36,400 | $36,400 | $47,850 | $78,520 | $100,240 | $59,510 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $16.50 | $16.78 | $17.35 | $19.17 | $33.15 | $21.44 | 229,970 | 12.63 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $34,320 | $34,900 | $36,080 | $39,870 | $68,950 | $44,600 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $13.09 | $13.73 | $17.38 | $22.88 | $30.57 | $20.12 | 207,180 | 20.86 | 1.43 |
| Annual | $27,230 | $28,550 | $36,150 | $47,590 | $63,580 | $41,840 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $8.21 | $8.63 | $11.18 | $17.90 | $22.88 | $14.30 | 199,610 | 14.19 | 0.97 |
| Annual | $17,070 | $17,950 | $23,240 | $37,230 | $47,590 | $29,750 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $16.12 | $16.60 | $22.61 | $31.00 | $40.01 | $26.32 | 142,940 | 14.75 | 1.01 |
| Annual | $33,540 | $34,520 | $47,020 | $64,480 | $83,210 | $54,750 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $8.85 | $11.78 | $16.68 | $22.49 | $29.70 | $18.32 | 82,300 | 13.57 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $18,400 | $24,490 | $34,690 | $46,790 | $61,780 | $38,110 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | Hourly | $15.59 | $17.82 | $39.69 | $58.02 | $65.22 | $41.93 | 2,700 | 36.58 | 2.50 |
| Annual | $32,430 | $37,070 | $82,550 | $120,680 | $135,660 | $87,210 | ||||
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | Hourly | $14.52 | $17.90 | $29.63 | $37.78 | $42.85 | $29.36 | 1,510 | 12.54 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $30,200 | $37,220 | $61,620 | $78,590 | $89,130 | $61,070 | ||||
| Urban Honolulu, HI | Hourly | $14.00 | $14.09 | $28.96 | $38.79 | $48.89 | $29.75 | 8,550 | 19.16 | 1.31 |
| Annual | $29,120 | $29,320 | $60,250 | $80,690 | $101,690 | $61,880 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $17.66 | $22.34 | $27.54 | $37.35 | $46.13 | $30.26 | 26,530 | 12.72 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $36,730 | $46,460 | $57,280 | $77,690 | $95,940 | $62,940 | ||||
| Walla Walla, WA | Hourly | $18.55 | $21.66 | $27.27 | $35.28 | $38.14 | $27.99 | 340 | 13.16 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $38,590 | $45,050 | $56,730 | $73,380 | $79,340 | $58,210 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $16.26 | $16.98 | $22.89 | $31.00 | $45.97 | $26.44 | 138,720 | 14.61 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $33,810 | $35,310 | $47,610 | $64,480 | $95,610 | $55,000 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $16.53 | $16.83 | $17.24 | $17.90 | $28.46 | $20.50 | 85,210 | 13.59 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $34,380 | $35,010 | $35,850 | $37,230 | $59,200 | $42,640 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $13.11 | $13.48 | $17.34 | $22.54 | $30.61 | $19.77 | 57,830 | 20.51 | 1.40 |
| Annual | $27,260 | $28,040 | $36,070 | $46,890 | $63,680 | $41,120 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $15.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 | $17.21 | $24.24 | $17.14 | 54,100 | 11.99 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $31,200 | $31,200 | $31,200 | $35,800 | $50,410 | $35,650 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $8.64 | $8.90 | $11.61 | $17.92 | $23.80 | $14.68 | 53,460 | 13.20 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $17,960 | $18,520 | $24,160 | $37,280 | $49,510 | $30,530 | ||||
Top industries employing waiters and waitresses
Restaurants and Other Eating Places employ 80.7% of waiters and waitresses nationally (1,833,310 jobs) at a median $35,090 a year ($16.87 an hour), followed by Traveler Accommodation (6.3%) and Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (3.3%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and Other Eating Places NAICS 722500 | 1,833,310 | 80.7% | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| Traveler Accommodation NAICS 721100 | 143,040 | 6.3% | $35,510 | $17.07 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries NAICS 713900 | 75,770 | 3.3% | $35,150 | $16.90 |
| Special Food Services NAICS 722300 | 59,110 | 2.6% | $38,340 | $18.43 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) NAICS 722400 | 50,960 | 2.2% | $34,090 | $16.39 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (2,270,910). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $26,000 for waiters and waitresses in May 2021 and $35,230 in May 2025, with employment of 1,804,030 and 2,270,910.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $26,000 | $12.50 | 1,804,030 |
| May 2022 | $29,120 | $14.00 | 2,122,210 |
| May 2023 | $31,940 | $15.36 | 2,237,850 |
| May 2024 | $33,760 | $16.23 | 2,302,690 |
| May 2025 | $35,230 | $16.94 | 2,270,910 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii profile | $29.99 | $62,390 | $29,120 | $119,870 | 14,090 | 22.45 | 1.54 |
| 2 | Vermont profile | $28.43 | $59,140 | $29,690 | $89,330 | 4,040 | 13.29 | 0.91 |
| 3 | Washington profile | $26.98 | $56,130 | $36,710 | $94,930 | 45,400 | 12.79 | 0.88 |
| 4 | Oregon profile | $23.27 | $48,410 | $31,200 | $77,620 | 23,040 | 11.72 | 0.80 |
| 5 | District of Columbia profile | $23.01 | $47,850 | $36,400 | $100,240 | 11,530 | 16.42 | 1.12 |
| 6 | New York profile | $22.61 | $47,020 | $33,540 | $83,210 | 142,940 | 14.75 | 1.01 |
| 7 | New Jersey profile | $21.62 | $44,960 | $32,220 | $78,510 | 55,800 | 13.02 | 0.89 |
| 8 | Colorado profile | $21.57 | $44,860 | $30,800 | $78,160 | 40,680 | 14.15 | 0.97 |
| 9 | Virginia profile | $21.52 | $44,760 | $28,270 | $74,130 | 59,370 | 14.45 | 0.99 |
| 10 | Arizona profile | $21.13 | $43,950 | $30,580 | $78,920 | 55,950 | 17.27 | 1.18 |
| 11 | Maine profile | $20.85 | $43,370 | $30,490 | $82,930 | 9,090 | 14.19 | 0.97 |
| 12 | Massachusetts profile | $18.49 | $38,460 | $31,790 | $62,200 | 54,670 | 15.03 | 1.03 |
| 13 | New Hampshire profile | $18.48 | $38,430 | $21,060 | $72,810 | 10,030 | 14.68 | 1.01 |
| 14 | Connecticut profile | $18.16 | $37,770 | $34,010 | $72,060 | 22,370 | 13.19 | 0.90 |
| 15 | Michigan profile | $18.16 | $37,760 | $25,960 | $64,350 | 65,090 | 14.78 | 1.01 |
| 16 | New Mexico profile | $17.75 | $36,920 | $26,670 | $69,410 | 12,740 | 14.63 | 1.00 |
| 17 | Delaware profile | $17.73 | $36,880 | $31,200 | $62,000 | 7,580 | 15.63 | 1.07 |
| 18 | Maryland profile | $17.67 | $36,750 | $31,200 | $62,210 | 38,120 | 13.80 | 0.94 |
| 19 | Ohio profile | $17.65 | $36,700 | $23,820 | $63,740 | 77,250 | 13.92 | 0.95 |
| 20 | Florida profile | $17.38 | $36,150 | $27,230 | $63,580 | 207,180 | 20.86 | 1.43 |
| 21 | Kansas profile | $17.36 | $36,120 | $17,370 | $62,890 | 19,480 | 13.55 | 0.93 |
| 22 | California profile | $17.35 | $36,080 | $34,320 | $68,950 | 229,970 | 12.63 | 0.86 |
| 23 | Rhode Island profile | $17.03 | $35,420 | $31,200 | $62,680 | 10,160 | 20.27 | 1.39 |
| 24 | West Virginia profile | $17.01 | $35,380 | $20,230 | $60,560 | 8,600 | 12.26 | 0.84 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania profile | $16.68 | $34,690 | $18,400 | $61,780 | 82,300 | 13.57 | 0.93 |
| 26 | Nebraska profile | $16.24 | $33,770 | $28,080 | $59,420 | 13,310 | 13.00 | 0.89 |
| 27 | North Carolina profile | $15.46 | $32,150 | $17,140 | $62,670 | 71,940 | 14.56 | 1.00 |
| 28 | Illinois profile | $15.00 | $31,200 | $31,200 | $49,470 | 72,900 | 11.96 | 0.82 |
| 29 | Utah profile | $14.98 | $31,150 | $18,550 | $60,320 | 17,790 | 10.25 | 0.70 |
| 30 | North Dakota profile | $14.85 | $30,890 | $18,470 | $60,570 | 5,250 | 12.24 | 0.84 |
| 31 | Idaho profile | $14.45 | $30,050 | $16,770 | $62,220 | 10,950 | 12.77 | 0.87 |
| 32 | Wisconsin profile | $14.26 | $29,670 | $16,830 | $61,770 | 36,220 | 12.31 | 0.84 |
| 33 | Kentucky profile | $14.26 | $29,660 | $16,520 | $62,030 | 27,150 | 13.58 | 0.93 |
| 34 | Missouri profile | $14.13 | $29,400 | $28,600 | $61,440 | 41,640 | 14.18 | 0.97 |
| 35 | South Dakota profile | $13.94 | $28,990 | $27,030 | $37,290 | 7,350 | 16.07 | 1.10 |
| 36 | Indiana profile | $13.69 | $28,480 | $17,640 | $48,350 | 43,620 | 13.63 | 0.93 |
| 37 | Tennessee profile | $13.35 | $27,760 | $15,080 | $47,660 | 52,120 | 15.90 | 1.09 |
| 38 | Alabama profile | $12.91 | $26,840 | $16,550 | $36,090 | 28,760 | 13.61 | 0.93 |
| 39 | Nevada profile | $12.70 | $26,410 | $24,960 | $50,140 | 42,520 | 27.41 | 1.88 |
| 40 | Alaska profile | $12.65 | $26,310 | $24,770 | $64,080 | 3,830 | 11.75 | 0.80 |
| 41 | Minnesota profile | $12.25 | $25,470 | $23,150 | $41,800 | 37,630 | 12.76 | 0.87 |
| 42 | Arkansas profile | $11.86 | $24,680 | $23,040 | $43,810 | 17,880 | 13.71 | 0.94 |
| 43 | Wyoming profile | $11.50 | $23,920 | $18,000 | $56,260 | 3,620 | 12.89 | 0.88 |
| 44 | Montana profile | $11.23 | $23,370 | $21,940 | $45,420 | 7,200 | 14.08 | 0.96 |
| 45 | Texas profile | $11.18 | $23,240 | $17,070 | $47,590 | 199,610 | 14.19 | 0.97 |
| 46 | Mississippi profile | $10.27 | $21,370 | $15,330 | $39,420 | 15,190 | 13.06 | 0.89 |
| 47 | Iowa profile | $10.10 | $21,000 | $15,080 | $47,980 | 22,410 | 14.37 | 0.98 |
| 48 | Georgia profile | $8.99 | $18,700 | $15,080 | $46,860 | 76,470 | 15.64 | 1.07 |
| 49 | South Carolina profile | $8.83 | $18,370 | $15,080 | $46,820 | 47,200 | 20.48 | 1.40 |
| 50 | Oklahoma profile | $8.61 | $17,910 | $15,230 | $47,630 | 27,000 | 15.81 | 1.08 |
| 51 | Louisiana profile | $7.25 | $15,080 | $15,080 | $38,060 | 33,870 | 17.51 | 1.20 |
Part of Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 35-3031 Waiters and Waitresses.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 35-3031, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 35-3031.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.