SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Waiters and Waitresses — Washington
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
The median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Washington, DC is $46,040 per year, well above the national median of $35,230.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Washington, DC is $46,040 per year, well above the national median of $35,230. The gap of 30.7% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Pay ranges from under $31,880 at the tenth percentile to more than $81,060 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $36,400 to $60,180.
The area has 46,160 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 14.7 of every thousand jobs. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 599th of 707 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,880 | −9.5% |
| 25th | $36,400 | +3.3% |
| Median (50th) | $46,040 | +30.7% |
| 75th | $60,180 | +70.8% |
| 90th | $81,060 | +130.1% |
| Mean | $51,820 | +47.1% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Washington run 9.9% above the national average, so the median of $46,040 buys what $41,893 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 18.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$46,040as reported by BLSLocal price level
109.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$41,893US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $46,040 a year, 30.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,880 to $81,060 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 46,160 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Washington, DC?
The median annual wage is $46,040, or $22.14 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 Washington, DC is 30.7% 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 Washington, DC earns more than $81,060 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,880 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.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 46,160 jobs in this occupation in Washington, DC. 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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