SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Waiters and Waitresses — Massachusetts
Massachusetts · 6 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Massachusetts comes to $38,460 a year, ahead of the national median of $35,230 by 9.2%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Massachusetts comes to $38,460 a year, ahead of the national median of $35,230 by 9.2%. Pay ranges from under $31,790 at the tenth percentile to more than $62,200 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $35,290 to $45,700.
Employment stands at 54,670, or 15.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Massachusetts ranks number 12th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Boston records the highest median at $39,270. Of the 717 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 680th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,790 | −9.8% |
| 25th | $35,290 | +0.2% |
| Median (50th) | $38,460 | +9.2% |
| 75th | $45,700 | +29.7% |
| 90th | $62,200 | +76.6% |
| Mean | $44,480 | +26.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Massachusetts
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston | $39,270 | 41,570 | |
| 2 | Barnstable Town | $38,380 | 2,970 | |
| 3 | Worcester | $36,840 | 4,610 | |
| 4 | Amherst Town | $36,650 | 980 | |
| 5 | Springfield | $36,170 | 2,670 | |
| 6 | Pittsfield | $35,950 | 1,150 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Massachusetts run 5.8% above the national average, so the median of $38,460 buys what $36,352 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 3.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$38,460as reported by BLSLocal price level
105.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$36,352US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $38,460 a year, 9.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,790 to $62,200 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 54,670 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 12th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Boston, at $39,270.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Massachusetts?
The median annual wage is $38,460, or $18.49 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 Massachusetts is 9.2% 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 Massachusetts earns more than $62,200 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,790 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 Boston, at $39,270 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 54,670 jobs in this occupation in Massachusetts. 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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