SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Waiters and Waitresses — Trenton
Trenton-Princeton, NJ · 2 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Trenton, NJ comes to $38,070 a year, ahead of the national median of $35,230 by 8.1%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Trenton, NJ comes to $38,070 a year, ahead of the national median of $35,230 by 8.1%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $34,630 and $50,080. The lowest tenth earn under $32,220, while the highest tenth earn more than $72,180.
The area has 2,160 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.62 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Atlantic City leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $38,160. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 385th of 434 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,220 | −8.5% |
| 25th | $34,630 | −1.7% |
| Median (50th) | $38,070 | +8.1% |
| 75th | $50,080 | +42.2% |
| 90th | $72,180 | +104.9% |
| Mean | $46,270 | +31.3% |
Other metro areas in New Jersey
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlantic City | $38,160 | 6,070 | |
| 2 | Vineland | $36,800 | 540 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Trenton run 8.8% above the national average, so the median of $38,070 buys what $34,991 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 0.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$38,070as reported by BLSLocal price level
108.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$34,991US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $38,070 a year, 8.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $32,220 to $72,180 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,160 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Atlantic City, at $38,160.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Trenton, NJ?
The median annual wage is $38,070, or $18.30 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 Trenton, NJ is 8.1% 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 Trenton, NJ earns more than $72,180 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $32,220 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 Atlantic City, at $38,160 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,160 jobs in this occupation in Trenton, NJ. 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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