SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Waiters and Waitresses — Seattle
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA · 10 metro areas compared
In Seattle, WA the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses reaches $57,280 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Seattle, WA the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses reaches $57,280 a year. That is 62.6% more than the national median of $35,230. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $46,460 and $77,690. The lowest tenth earn under $36,730, while the highest tenth earn more than $95,940.
The area has 26,530 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.87 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Walla Walla leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $56,730. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 531st of 693 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,730 | +4.3% |
| 25th | $46,460 | +31.9% |
| Median (50th) | $57,280 | +62.6% |
| 75th | $77,690 | +120.5% |
| 90th | $95,940 | +172.3% |
| Mean | $62,940 | +78.7% |
Other metro areas in Washington
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walla Walla | $56,730 | 340 | |
| 2 | Bellingham | $56,700 | 1,450 | |
| 3 | Bremerton | $55,270 | 1,370 | |
| 4 | Longview | $54,870 | 410 | |
| 5 | Mount Vernon | $53,060 | 830 | |
| 6 | Olympia | $53,000 | 1,410 | |
| 7 | Kennewick | $51,460 | 1,510 | |
| 8 | Wenatchee | $49,820 | 960 | |
| 9 | Yakima | $49,060 | 1,000 | |
| 10 | Spokane | $48,560 | 3,420 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Seattle run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $57,280 buys what $53,533 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 52.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$57,280as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$53,533US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $57,280 a year, 62.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,730 to $95,940 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 26,530 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Walla Walla, at $56,730.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Seattle, WA?
The median annual wage is $57,280, or $27.54 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 Seattle, WA is 62.6% 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 Seattle, WA earns more than $95,940 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,730 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 Walla Walla, at $56,730 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 26,530 jobs in this occupation in Seattle, WA. 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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