SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Waiters and Waitresses — Hawaii
Hawaii · 2 metro areas compared
The median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Hawaii is $62,390 per year, well above the national median of $35,230.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Hawaii is $62,390 per year, well above the national median of $35,230. The gap of 77.1% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Pay ranges from under $29,120 at the tenth percentile to more than $119,870 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $30,090 to $96,010.
The area has 14,090 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 22.4 of every thousand jobs. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Hawaii ranks 1st by median wage. Kahului leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $82,550. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 282nd of 537 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,120 | −17.3% |
| 25th | $30,090 | −14.6% |
| Median (50th) | $62,390 | +77.1% |
| 75th | $96,010 | +172.5% |
| 90th | $119,870 | +240.2% |
| Mean | $68,260 | +93.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Hawaii
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului | $82,550 | 2,700 | |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu | $60,250 | 8,550 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Hawaii run 10.0% above the national average, so the median of $62,390 buys what $56,718 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 61.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$62,390as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$56,718US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $62,390 a year, 77.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $29,120 to $119,870 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 14,090 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 1st of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Kahului, at $82,550.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Hawaii?
The median annual wage is $62,390, or $29.99 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 Hawaii is 77.1% 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 Hawaii earns more than $119,870 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $29,120 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 Kahului, at $82,550 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 14,090 jobs in this occupation in Hawaii. 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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