Best cities for a formal waiter/waitress
The best cities for formal waiter/waitresses are Scottsdale, AZ, Detroit, MI, and Minneapolis, MN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for formal waiter/waitresses vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for formal waiter/waitresses in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a formal waiter/waitress or considering a move, this list of the best cities for formal waiter/waitresses to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for formal waiter/waitresses. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a formal waiter/waitress. While the absolute best city for formal waiter/waitresses is Scottsdale, AZ, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for formal waiter/waitresses in 2024.
If you're looking for a formal waiter/waitress job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for formal waiter/waitresses in 2025
1. Scottsdale, AZ
Total formal waiter/waitress jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $31,219 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 4.77 2. Detroit, MI
Total formal waiter/waitress jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $30,724 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 1.17 3. Minneapolis, MN
Total formal waiter/waitress jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $31,263 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 2.63 4. Saint Paul, MN
Total formal waiter/waitress jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $31,272 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 2.59 5. Reno, NV
Total formal waiter/waitress jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $24,518 Lowest 10 percent warn: $18,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Location quotient: 3.30 6. Tucson, AZ
Total formal waiter/waitress jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $30,881 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Glendale, AZ
Total formal waiter/waitress jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $31,292 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Phoenix, AZ
Total formal waiter/waitress jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $31,270 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Chandler, AZ
Total formal waiter/waitress jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $31,191 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Gilbert, AZ
Total formal waiter/waitress jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $31,168 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for formal waiter/waitresses
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Detroit, MI
- Minneapolis, MN
- Saint Paul, MN
- Reno, NV
- Tucson, AZ
- Glendale, AZ
- Phoenix, AZ
- Chandler, AZ
- Gilbert, AZ
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Detailed list of the best cities for a formal waiter/waitress
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scottsdale, AZ | $31,219 | $24,000 | 246,645 | 2 |
| 2 | Detroit, MI | $30,724 | $23,000 | 672,795 | 1 |
| 3 | Minneapolis, MN | $31,263 | $24,000 | 413,651 | 4 |
| 4 | Saint Paul, MN | $31,272 | $24,000 | 302,398 | 2 |
| 5 | Reno, NV | $24,518 | $18,000 | 245,255 | 1 |
| 6 | Tucson, AZ | $30,881 | $23,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 7 | Glendale, AZ | $31,292 | $24,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $31,270 | $24,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 9 | Chandler, AZ | $31,191 | $24,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 10 | Gilbert, AZ | $31,168 | $24,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 11 | Pittsburgh, PA | $24,148 | $18,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 12 | Mesa, AZ | $31,167 | $24,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 13 | Boston, MA | $32,308 | $25,000 | 673,184 | 5 |
| 14 | Madison, WI | $23,774 | $18,000 | 252,551 | 1 |
| 15 | Seattle, WA | $30,953 | $23,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 16 | New York, NY | $34,529 | $26,000 | 8,537,673 | 11 |
| 17 | Brookhaven, NY | $34,869 | $26,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 18 | Islip, NY | $34,744 | $26,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 19 | San Francisco, CA | $30,845 | $23,000 | 870,887 | 1 |
| 20 | Colorado Springs, CO | $27,385 | $21,000 | 465,101 | 3 |
| 21 | Milwaukee, WI | $23,937 | $18,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 22 | Oyster Bay, NY | $34,713 | $26,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 23 | Washington, DC | $33,134 | $25,000 | 681,170 | 3 |
| 24 | Philadelphia, PA | $24,918 | $19,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 25 | Hempstead, NY | $34,594 | $26,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 26 | Austin, TX | $24,245 | $18,000 | 947,890 | 3 |
| 27 | Oakland, CA | $30,797 | $23,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 28 | Buffalo, NY | $34,475 | $26,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 29 | Fremont, CA | $30,724 | $23,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 30 | Anchorage, AK | $29,527 | $24,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 31 | San Jose, CA | $30,690 | $23,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 32 | Sacramento, CA | $30,648 | $23,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 33 | Stockton, CA | $30,604 | $23,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 34 | Portland, OR | $28,106 | $21,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 35 | San Antonio, TX | $24,300 | $18,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 36 | Kansas City, MO | $24,121 | $18,000 | 481,420 | 5 |
| 37 | Corpus Christi, TX | $24,264 | $18,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 38 | Las Vegas, NV | $23,817 | $18,000 | 632,912 | 2 |
| 39 | Denver, CO | $27,357 | $21,000 | 693,060 | 4 |
| 40 | El Paso, TX | $25,047 | $19,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 41 | Fort Worth, TX | $24,220 | $18,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 42 | Arlington, TX | $24,204 | $18,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 43 | Irving, TX | $24,195 | $18,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 44 | Fresno, CA | $30,281 | $23,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 45 | Dallas, TX | $24,185 | $18,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 46 | Plano, TX | $24,178 | $18,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 47 | Garland, TX | $24,174 | $18,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 48 | Bakersfield, CA | $30,073 | $23,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 49 | Houston, TX | $24,107 | $18,000 | 2,303,482 | 1 |
| 50 | Memphis, TN | $22,895 | $17,000 | 652,717 | - |
Highest paying cities for formal waiter/waitresses
| Rank | City | Avg. formal waiter/waitress salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $34,529 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $33,134 |
| 3 | Rochester, MN | $31,021 |
| 4 | Grand Rapids, MI | $30,576 |
| 5 | Culver City, CA | $29,823 |
| 6 | Colorado Springs, CO | $27,385 |
| 7 | Greenwich, CT | $27,262 |
| 8 | Washington, UT | $26,121 |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | $24,185 |
| 10 | Kansas City, MO | $24,121 |
| 11 | Henderson, NV | $23,779 |
| 12 | Orlando, FL | $23,671 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $23,420 |
| 14 | Cleveland, OH | $22,262 |
| 15 | Fayetteville, NC | $21,587 |
| 16 | Arlington, VA | $21,348 |
| 17 | Mount Pleasant, SC | $21,152 |
| 18 | Canton, GA | $20,617 |
| 19 | Baton Rouge, LA | $19,769 |
| 20 | Starkville, MS | $19,318 |
Formal waiter/waitress best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025