SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Waiters and Waitresses — Oklahoma
Oklahoma · 4 metro areas compared
The median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Oklahoma is $17,910 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,230 — a gap of 49.2%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Oklahoma is $17,910 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,230 — a gap of 49.2%. Pay ranges from under $15,230 at the tenth percentile to more than $47,630 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $16,550 to $28,450.
Employment stands at 27,000, or 15.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Oklahoma ranks 50th by median wage. Tulsa leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $18,350. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 710th of 710 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $15,230 | −56.8% |
| 25th | $16,550 | −53.0% |
| Median (50th) | $17,910 | −49.2% |
| 75th | $28,450 | −19.2% |
| 90th | $47,630 | +35.2% |
| Mean | $25,870 | −26.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Oklahoma
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tulsa | $18,350 | 7,460 | |
| 2 | Oklahoma City | $18,200 | 11,560 | |
| 3 | Lawton | $17,150 | 700 | |
| 4 | Enid | $16,650 | 390 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Oklahoma run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $17,910 goes as far as $20,399 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 42.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$17,910as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$20,399US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $17,910 a year, 49.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $15,230 to $47,630 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 27,000 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 50th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Tulsa, at $18,350.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Oklahoma?
The median annual wage is $17,910, or $8.61 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 Oklahoma is 49.2% 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 Oklahoma earns more than $47,630 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $15,230 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 Tulsa, at $18,350 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 27,000 jobs in this occupation in Oklahoma. 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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