How Much Does a Waiter Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$35,230
Waiters in the U.S. earn a median of $35,230 a year, or $16.94 an hour. Half of waiters earn more than $35,230 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $64,720.
Pay percentiles for waiters
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $8.70 | $18,100 |
| 25th | $13.34 | $27,750 |
| 50th (median) | $16.94 | $35,230 |
| 75th | $22.65 | $47,110 |
| 90th | $31.12 | $64,720 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Waiters and Waitresses (SOC 35-3031). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for waiters
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $62,390 | $29.99 | +77% |
| Vermont | $59,140 | $28.43 | +68% |
| Washington | $56,130 | $26.98 | +59% |
| Oregon | $48,410 | $23.27 | +37% |
| District of Columbia | $47,850 | $23.01 | +36% |
| New York | $47,020 | $22.61 | +33% |
| New Jersey | $44,960 | $21.62 | +28% |
| Colorado | $44,860 | $21.57 | +27% |
| Virginia | $44,760 | $21.52 | +27% |
| Arizona | $43,950 | $21.13 | +25% |
| United States | $35,230 | $16.94 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many waiters are there?
BLS counts about 2,270,910 waiters employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Waiters and Waitresses”. The most jobs are in California (229,970), Florida (207,180) and Texas (199,610).
The mean (average) annual wage is $40,060, higher than the median of $35,230.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $2,936
- Biweekly
- $1,355
- Weekly
- $678
- Daily (8 hours)
- $136
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do waiters make an hour?
The median hourly wage for waiters is $16.94. The middle 50% earn between $13.34 and $22.65 an hour.
Which state pays waiters the most?
Hawaii has the highest median wage for waiters at $62,390, +77% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for waiters?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of waiters earn less than $18,100 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.