SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Waiters and Waitresses — Delaware
Delaware · 1 metro areas compared
The median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Delaware is $36,880 per year, close to the national median of $35,230 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Delaware is $36,880 per year, close to the national median of $35,230 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $31,200 and $46,400. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $31,200 and the ninetieth at $62,000.
The area has 7,580 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 15.6 of every thousand jobs. Delaware ranks number 17th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Dover records the highest median at $36,030. Of the 517 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 459th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,200 | −11.4% |
| 25th | $31,200 | −11.4% |
| Median (50th) | $36,880 | +4.7% |
| 75th | $46,400 | +31.7% |
| 90th | $62,000 | +76.0% |
| Mean | $43,070 | +22.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Delaware
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dover | $36,030 | 970 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Delaware sit close to the national average, so $36,880 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$36,880as reported by BLSLocal price level
99.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$36,954US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,880 a year, 4.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,200 to $62,000 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 7,580 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 17th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Dover, at $36,030.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Delaware?
The median annual wage is $36,880, or $17.73 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 Delaware is 4.7% 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 Delaware earns more than $62,000 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,200 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 Dover, at $36,030 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 7,580 jobs in this occupation in Delaware. 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.
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