SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Waiters and Waitresses — Minneapolis
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI · 4 metro areas compared
Median pay in Minneapolis, MN is $25,920 a year, 26.4% under the national median of $35,230 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in Minneapolis, MN is $25,920 a year, 26.4% under the national median of $35,230 for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $23,650 and $33,120. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $23,260 and the ninetieth at $43,280.
The area has 25,620 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.90 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Rochester leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $24,060. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 669th of 670 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,260 | −34.0% |
| 25th | $23,650 | −32.9% |
| Median (50th) | $25,920 | −26.4% |
| 75th | $33,120 | −6.0% |
| 90th | $43,280 | +22.8% |
| Mean | $31,300 | −11.2% |
Other metro areas in Minnesota
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Minneapolis sit close to the national average, so $25,920 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$25,920as reported by BLSLocal price level
98.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$26,288US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $25,920 a year, 26.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $23,260 to $43,280 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 25,620 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Rochester, at $24,060.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Minneapolis, MN?
The median annual wage is $25,920, or $12.46 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 Minneapolis, MN is 26.4% lower. 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 Minneapolis, MN earns more than $43,280 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $23,260 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 Rochester, at $24,060 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 25,620 jobs in this occupation in Minneapolis, MN. 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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