SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Waiters and Waitresses — New York
New York · 10 metro areas compared
At $47,020 a year, the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in New York sits 33.5% above the national figure of $35,230.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $47,020 a year, the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in New York sits 33.5% above the national figure of $35,230. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $34,520 and $64,480. The lowest tenth earn under $33,540, while the highest tenth earn more than $83,210.
The area has 142,940 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.01 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. New York ranks number 6th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Albany records the highest median at $48,980. Of the 776 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 648th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $33,540 | −4.8% |
| 25th | $34,520 | −2.0% |
| Median (50th) | $47,020 | +33.5% |
| 75th | $64,480 | +83.0% |
| 90th | $83,210 | +136.2% |
| Mean | $54,750 | +55.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in New York
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albany | $48,980 | 6,310 | |
| 2 | Syracuse | $47,640 | 3,430 | |
| 3 | New York | $47,610 | 138,720 | |
| 4 | Kiryas Joel | $46,950 | 3,930 | |
| 5 | Binghamton | $46,600 | 1,390 | |
| 6 | Buffalo | $46,580 | 7,990 | |
| 7 | Kingston | $46,440 | 1,280 | |
| 8 | Elmira | $46,160 | 480 | |
| 9 | Ithaca | $46,090 | 620 | |
| 10 | Utica | $45,950 | 1,790 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New York run 7.9% above the national average, so the median of $47,020 buys what $43,577 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 23.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$47,020as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$43,577US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $47,020 a year, 33.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $33,540 to $83,210 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 142,940 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 6th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Albany, at $48,980.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in New York?
The median annual wage is $47,020, or $22.61 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 New York is 33.5% 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 New York earns more than $83,210 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $33,540 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 Albany, at $48,980 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 142,940 jobs in this occupation in New York. 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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