SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Waiters and Waitresses — Palm Bay
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL · 10 metro areas compared
At $36,670, median pay for Waiters and Waitresses in Palm Bay, FL tracks the national median of $35,230 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
How pay has moved
The next ten years
Projected to decline
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- -0.7%
- Openings per year
- 456,700
- Typical entry-level education
- No formal educational credential
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are published nationally only. This is the outlook for the occupation across the United States, not a measurement for Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Salary overview
At $36,670, median pay for Waiters and Waitresses in Palm Bay, FL tracks the national median of $35,230 closely. Pay ranges from under $27,610 at the tenth percentile to more than $62,170 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $28,800 to $47,340.
Employment stands at 5,080, or 20.7 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Naples records the highest median at $37,550. Of the 414 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 362nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,610 | −21.6% |
| 25th | $28,800 | −18.3% |
| Median (50th) | $36,670 | +4.1% |
| 75th | $47,340 | +34.4% |
| 90th | $62,170 | +76.5% |
| Mean | $41,250 | +17.1% |
Other metro areas in Florida
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naples | $37,550 | 6,610 | |
| 2 | Crestview | $37,370 | 4,430 | |
| 3 | Tampa | $37,070 | 25,280 | |
| 4 | Cape Coral | $36,660 | 7,980 | |
| 5 | North Port | $36,660 | 9,200 | |
| 6 | Jacksonville | $36,630 | 13,140 | |
| 7 | Punta Gorda | $36,360 | 1,780 | |
| 8 | Wildwood | $36,340 | 1,170 | |
| 9 | Port St. Lucie | $36,250 | 4,050 | |
| 10 | Miami | $36,070 | 57,830 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Palm Bay sit close to the national average, so $36,670 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$36,670as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$36,670US average = 100 · BEA 2024Why the state that pays most is usually not where pay goes furthest
Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,670 a year, 4.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $27,610 to $62,170 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 5,080 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Naples, at $37,550.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Palm Bay, FL?
The median annual wage is $36,670, or $17.63 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 Palm Bay, FL is 4.1% 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 Palm Bay, FL earns more than $62,170 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $27,610 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 Naples, at $37,550 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 5,080 jobs in this occupation in Palm Bay, FL. 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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