Research Summary. After comprehensive research by the Zippia data science team, we present the latest insights into waitress salaries by state in the United States for 2026:
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New York continues to lead with the highest average waitress salary of $32,853
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Oklahoma remains at the bottom with the lowest average salary of $18,371
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The national average salary for waitresses is $24,770
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The national hourly wage for waitresses stands at $11.91
Explore further details on the specific methodology.
Background
Importantly, surveys consistently reveal that the most crucial factor for job seekers across various demographics is salary—specifically, how much waitresses earn in their area.
While individual earnings can vary significantly based on location and experience, robust data on average salaries for waitresses by state, categorized by seniority, provides valuable guidance. Even if your city’s figures are slightly different from the state average, these statistics offer a helpful benchmark for salary expectations.
In terms of state rankings for waitress salaries, New York remains at the forefront.
Here’s a concise overview of the top ten states for waitress salaries in 2026:
Let’s delve into how these salaries were determined and present a full ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Waitresses By State
| Rank | State | Average Waitress Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $32,853 | $22,000 | $48,000 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $30,992 | $21,000 | $44,000 |
| 3 | California | $30,740 | $20,000 | $45,000 |
| 4 | Vermont | $30,692 | $22,000 | $42,000 |
| 5 | Hawaii | $29,950 | $26,000 | $34,000 |
| 6 | Washington | $29,817 | $20,000 | $43,000 |
| 7 | Arizona | $29,566 | $19,000 | $43,000 |
| 8 | Oregon | $27,788 | $18,000 | $41,000 |
| 9 | Maine | $26,909 | $20,000 | $35,000 |
| 10 | Colorado | $26,884 | $18,000 | $39,000 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $26,690 | $18,000 | $38,000 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $26,407 | $17,000 | $38,000 |
| 13 | Maryland | $26,208 | $17,000 | $38,000 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $25,885 | $18,000 | $37,000 |
| 15 | Illinois | $25,700 | $17,000 | $37,000 |
| 16 | Delaware | $25,330 | $17,000 | $37,000 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $25,292 | $17,000 | $36,000 |
| 18 | Michigan | $24,916 | $17,000 | $36,000 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $24,694 | $16,000 | $36,000 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $24,307 | $17,000 | $34,000 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $24,126 | $16,000 | $35,000 |
| 22 | Missouri | $23,893 | $16,000 | $35,000 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $23,533 | $16,000 | $33,000 |
| 24 | Alaska | $23,303 | $19,000 | $27,000 |
| 25 | Virginia | $23,071 | $15,000 | $33,000 |
| 26 | Florida | $23,051 | $16,000 | $33,000 |
| 27 | Iowa | $22,659 | $15,000 | $33,000 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $22,533 | $15,000 | $33,000 |
| 29 | Nevada | $22,365 | $14,000 | $33,000 |
| 30 | Kansas | $22,353 | $15,000 | $33,000 |
| 31 | Idaho | $22,240 | $14,000 | $33,000 |
| 32 | Georgia | $22,232 | $15,000 | $32,000 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $22,190 | $15,000 | $32,000 |
| 34 | Utah | $22,038 | $14,000 | $32,000 |
| 35 | Indiana | $21,752 | $14,000 | $31,000 |
| 36 | Ohio | $21,723 | $14,000 | $31,000 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $21,690 | $14,000 | $31,000 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $21,369 | $14,000 | $31,000 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $21,257 | $14,000 | $31,000 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $20,895 | $14,000 | $30,000 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $20,814 | $14,000 | $30,000 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $20,508 | $14,000 | $29,000 |
| 43 | Alabama | $20,462 | $14,000 | $29,000 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $20,442 | $13,000 | $30,000 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $20,230 | $13,000 | $29,000 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $19,790 | $13,000 | $28,000 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $19,549 | $13,000 | $28,000 |
| 48 | Texas | $19,482 | $13,000 | $28,000 |
| 49 | Montana | $19,394 | $13,000 | $28,000 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $18,371 | $12,000 | $27,000 |
Methodology: Waitress Salary By State
To gain a clearer picture of waitress pay by state, Zippia has compiled data from various reliable sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM, combined with actual salary listings from job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average to derive the average salary for waitresses by state.
Using this approach, we ranked each state based on the average annual salary for waitresses, highlighting the state with the highest average salary.
Waitress Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for waitresses?
The highest-paid state for waitresses is New York, offering an average salary of $32,853 per year.
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What city pays waitresses the most?
Washington, DC has the highest average salary for waitresses, at $34,909 per year.
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What is the worst state for waitresses?
The lowest-paying state for waitresses is Oklahoma, with an average salary of $18,371 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
