SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Waiters and Waitresses — Jackson
Jackson, MI · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Jackson, MI is $39,920 per year, 13.3% 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 Jackson, MI is $39,920 per year, 13.3% above the national median of $35,230. Pay ranges from under $25,960 at the tenth percentile to more than $63,840 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $29,560 to $58,160.
Employment stands at 810, or 14.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Muskegon leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $44,920. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 176th of 231 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $25,960 | −26.3% |
| 25th | $29,560 | −16.1% |
| Median (50th) | $39,920 | +13.3% |
| 75th | $58,160 | +65.1% |
| 90th | $63,840 | +81.2% |
| Mean | $45,050 | +27.9% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muskegon | $44,920 | 930 | |
| 2 | Flint | $44,030 | 2,120 | |
| 3 | Grand Rapids | $42,930 | 8,080 | |
| 4 | Traverse City | $41,380 | 1,610 | |
| 5 | Bay City | $40,500 | 570 | |
| 6 | Ann Arbor | $40,230 | 2,710 | |
| 7 | Saginaw | $39,430 | 1,470 | |
| 8 | Monroe | $38,780 | 660 | |
| 9 | Lansing | $38,210 | 2,710 | |
| 10 | Niles | $38,130 | 1,390 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Jackson run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $39,920 goes as far as $41,497 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 17.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$39,920as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$41,497US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $39,920 a year, 13.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $25,960 to $63,840 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 810 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Muskegon, at $44,920.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Jackson, MI?
The median annual wage is $39,920, or $19.19 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 Jackson, MI is 13.3% 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 Jackson, MI earns more than $63,840 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $25,960 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 Muskegon, at $44,920 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 810 jobs in this occupation in Jackson, MI. 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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