SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Waiters and Waitresses — Central Oregon
Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area · 8 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Central Oregon, OR comes to $39,880 a year, ahead of the national median of $35,230 by 13.2%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Central Oregon, OR comes to $39,880 a year, ahead of the national median of $35,230 by 13.2%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $31,280 and $61,020. The lowest tenth earn under $30,410, while the highest tenth earn more than $68,860.
Employment stands at 760, or 15.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Portland leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $54,780. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 220th of 263 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,410 | −13.7% |
| 25th | $31,280 | −11.2% |
| Median (50th) | $39,880 | +13.2% |
| 75th | $61,020 | +73.2% |
| 90th | $68,860 | +95.5% |
| Mean | $46,590 | +32.2% |
Other metro areas in Oregon
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Central Oregon run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $39,880 buys what $38,569 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 9.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$39,880as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$38,569US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $39,880 a year, 13.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $30,410 to $68,860 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 760 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Portland, at $54,780.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Central Oregon, OR?
The median annual wage is $39,880, or $19.17 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $35,230, so pay in Central Oregon, OR is 13.2% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Central Oregon, OR earns more than $68,860 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $30,410 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Portland, at $54,780 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 760 jobs in this occupation in Central Oregon, OR. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. 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.
Explore related data