Waiters and Waitresses Salary in Alabama
In Alabama, waiters and waitresses earn a median $26,840 a year, well below the national median of $35,230 (−24%); the state ranks 38th of 51 states by median. That is 41% less than the median across all occupations in Alabama ($45,670). Among neighbouring states, Florida and Tennessee pay more (up to $36,150 in Florida) and Mississippi and Georgia pay less (down to $18,700 in Georgia). Alabama employs 28,760 waiters and waitresses, 13.6 per 1,000 jobs, the 26th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.93 is close to the national share.
Alabama vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $7.96 | $9.77 | $12.91 | $13.90 | $17.35 | $13.08 | 28,760 | 13.61 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $16,550 | $20,320 | $26,840 | $28,900 | $36,090 | $27,200 | ||||
| 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 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 38th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 26th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.93
- Jobs per 1,000
- 13.61
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Alabama's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Alabama
13 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Alabama publish a row for waiters and waitresses, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | $13.46 | $27,990 | $16,950 | $37,300 | 3,290 | 12.35 | 0.85 |
| Birmingham, AL | $13.31 | $27,670 | $16,840 | $36,540 | 7,000 | 13.45 | 0.92 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $13.02 | $27,080 | $16,680 | $38,370 | 3,120 | 35.79 | 2.45 |
| Decatur, AL | $12.99 | $27,010 | $16,210 | $36,060 | 670 | 10.98 | 0.75 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $12.95 | $26,930 | $16,750 | $35,820 | 1,650 | 15.22 | 1.04 |
| Mobile, AL | $12.91 | $26,860 | $16,420 | $35,950 | 2,510 | 14.55 | 1.00 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $12.73 | $26,470 | $16,630 | $35,040 | 1,310 | 18.05 | 1.24 |
| Montgomery, AL | $12.67 | $26,360 | $16,550 | $35,400 | 2,300 | 13.92 | 0.95 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $12.49 | $25,990 | $16,240 | $35,330 | 1,100 | 19.62 | 1.34 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $11.84 | $24,640 | $16,010 | $34,580 | 600 | 13.88 | 0.95 |
| Dothan, AL | $11.79 | $24,520 | $15,750 | $34,430 | 960 | 15.79 | 1.08 |
| Gadsden, AL | $11.55 | $24,030 | $16,160 | $31,220 | 560 | 16.99 | 1.16 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $10.00 | $20,800 | $15,080 | $43,160 | 2,080 | 17.85 | 1.22 |
| Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $12.37 | $25,720 | $16,120 | $34,840 | 590 | 8.76 | 0.60 |
| Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $11.18 | $23,250 | $15,990 | $34,840 | 780 | 9.35 | 0.64 |
| Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $11.03 | $22,950 | $15,970 | $35,370 | 1,530 | 10.03 | 0.69 |
| Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $10.18 | $21,160 | $15,860 | $35,300 | 440 | 6.76 | 0.46 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $12.91 | $26,840 | 28,760 | 0.93 |
| Florida | $17.38 | $36,150 | 207,180 | 1.43 |
| Georgia | $8.99 | $18,700 | 76,470 | 1.07 |
| Mississippi | $10.27 | $21,370 | 15,190 | 0.89 |
| Tennessee | $13.35 | $27,760 | 52,120 | 1.09 |
See the national page for Waiters and Waitresses (every state ranked) and the Alabama wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Alabama estimates.
- 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.