SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · United States
Waiters and Waitresses
National figures, with pay broken out by state and metro area
The median wage for Waiters and Waitresses across the United States is $35,230 per year, measured over 2,270,910 jobs. The highest state median is in Hawaii, at $62,390.
National wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
The next ten years
Projected to decline
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- -0.7%
- Openings per year
- 456,700
- Typical entry-level education
- No formal educational credential
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Where the pay is highest for Waiters and Waitresses
Pay for this occupation varies by 313.7% between the highest and lowest paying states with published data. Hawaii pays $62,390 and Louisiana pays $15,080.
| # | State | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $62,390 | 14,090 | |
| 2 | Vermont | $59,140 | 4,040 | |
| 3 | Washington | $56,130 | 45,400 | |
| 4 | Oregon | $48,410 | 23,040 | |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $47,850 | 11,530 | |
| 6 | New York | $47,020 | 142,940 | |
| 7 | New Jersey | $44,960 | 55,800 | |
| 8 | Colorado | $44,860 | 40,680 | |
| 9 | Virginia | $44,760 | 59,370 | |
| 10 | Arizona | $43,950 | 55,950 |
States with the most Waiters and Waitresses jobs
| # | State | Jobs | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 229,970 | $36,080 | |
| 2 | Florida | 207,180 | $36,150 | |
| 3 | Texas | 199,610 | $23,240 | |
| 4 | New York | 142,940 | $47,020 | |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 82,300 | $34,690 | |
| 6 | Ohio | 77,250 | $36,700 | |
| 7 | Georgia | 76,470 | $18,700 | |
| 8 | Illinois | 72,900 | $31,200 | |
| 9 | North Carolina | 71,940 | $32,150 | |
| 10 | Michigan | 65,090 | $37,760 |
Top-paying metro areas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului | $82,550 | 2,700 |
| 2 | Burlington | $61,620 | 1,510 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu | $60,250 | 8,550 |
| 4 | Seattle | $57,280 | 26,530 |
| 5 | Walla Walla | $56,730 | 340 |
| 6 | Bellingham | $56,700 | 1,450 |
| 7 | Bremerton | $55,270 | 1,370 |
| 8 | Longview | $54,870 | 410 |
| 9 | Portland | $54,780 | 13,910 |
| 10 | Mount Vernon | $53,060 | 830 |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.