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Bar waiter/waitress salary
Average bar waiter/waitress salary
$11.95
Bar Waiter/Waitress Salary Insights
The average salary for a bar waiter/waitress in the United States is approximately $24,853 annually, translating to about $12 per hour. However, this figure can fluctuate based on several factors, including geographic location, establishment type, and years of experience.
Where Can Bar Waiters/Waitresses Earn More?
In areas like New York, California, and Illinois, bar waiters and waitresses often see higher salaries due to increased demand and cost of living. For instance, metropolitan areas typically offer better pay compared to rural locations.
Average Salaries by State
- New York: $30,000
- California: $28,000
- Texas: $22,000
Additionally, establishments such as upscale restaurants or high-end bars tend to pay more than typical casual dining spots. To maximize earning potential, consider gaining experience and pursuing roles in high-demand locations.
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Where can a Bar Waiter/Waitress earn more?
Average bar waiter/waitress salary by state
The average bar waiter/waitress salary in California, Arizona, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average bar waiter/waitress salary states are North Carolina, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for bar waiter/waitresses
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $32,073 | $15.42 |
| 2 | Colorado | $29,303 | $14.09 |
| 3 | Michigan | $26,823 | $12.90 |
| 4 | New York | $31,996 | $15.38 |
| 5 | California | $32,165 | $15.46 |
| 6 | Washington | $31,458 | $15.12 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $29,131 | $14.01 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $35,424 | $17.03 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $30,054 | $14.45 |
| 10 | Vermont | $31,099 | $14.95 |
| 11 | Maine | $28,826 | $13.86 |
| 12 | Texas | $23,992 | $11.53 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $28,020 | $13.47 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $22,896 | $11.01 |
| 15 | Ohio | $23,347 | $11.22 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $25,189 | $12.11 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $28,693 | $13.79 |
| 18 | Delaware | $25,631 | $12.32 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $27,026 | $12.99 |
| 20 | Oregon | $27,314 | $13.13 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $24,042 | $11.56 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $24,126 | $11.60 |
| 23 | Florida | $22,971 | $11.04 |
| 24 | Idaho | $24,585 | $11.82 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $21,802 | $10.48 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $30,587 | $14.71 |
| 27 | Nevada | $21,984 | $10.57 |
| 28 | Utah | $23,734 | $11.41 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $21,685 | $10.43 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $23,084 | $11.10 |
| 31 | Maryland | $25,402 | $12.21 |
| 32 | Missouri | $22,541 | $10.84 |
| 33 | Alabama | $21,533 | $10.35 |
| 34 | Georgia | $22,631 | $10.88 |
| 35 | Iowa | $22,725 | $10.93 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $21,288 | $10.23 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $22,676 | $10.90 |
| 38 | Montana | $21,845 | $10.50 |
| 39 | Illinois | $22,220 | $10.68 |
| 40 | Alaska | $24,110 | $11.59 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $22,314 | $10.73 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $19,738 | $9.49 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $20,142 | $9.68 |
| 44 | Virginia | $21,256 | $10.22 |
| 45 | Kansas | $20,233 | $9.73 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $18,166 | $8.73 |
| 47 | Indiana | $18,907 | $9.09 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $18,762 | $9.02 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $19,253 | $9.26 |
| 50 | North Dakota | $21,015 | $10.10 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $20,612 | $9.91 |
Highest paying cities for bar waiter/waitresses
The highest-paying cities for bar waiter/waitresses are Washington, DC, Amagansett, NY, and San Francisco, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $35,368 | $17.00 |
| 2 | Amagansett, NY | $32,442 | $15.60 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $32,366 | $15.56 |
| 4 | Islandia, NY | $32,229 | $15.49 |
| 5 | Elmsford, NY | $32,197 | $15.48 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $32,185 | $15.47 |
| 7 | Goodyear, AZ | $32,166 | $15.46 |
| 8 | Old Brookville, NY | $32,159 | $15.46 |
| 9 | Anaheim, CA | $32,117 | $15.44 |
| 10 | San Diego, CA | $32,097 | $15.43 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $32,063 | $15.41 |
| 12 | New York, NY | $32,032 | $15.40 |
| 13 | Buffalo, NY | $31,795 | $15.29 |
| 14 | Flagstaff, AZ | $31,701 | $15.24 |
| 15 | Bonney Lake, WA | $31,545 | $15.17 |
| 16 | Seattle, WA | $31,499 | $15.14 |
| 17 | Issaquah, WA | $31,479 | $15.13 |
| 18 | Redmond, WA | $31,468 | $15.13 |
| 19 | Spokane Valley, WA | $31,052 | $14.93 |
| 20 | Onamia, MN | $30,143 | $14.49 |
Bar waiter/waitress salary details
A bar waiter/waitress's salary ranges from $16,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $38,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a bar waiter/waitress's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| 75th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
| Average | $24,853 | $2,071 | $12 |
| 25th Percentile | $19,000 | $1,583 | $9 |
| 10th Percentile | $16,000 | $1,333 | $8 |
Highest paying bar waiter/waitress jobs
The highest paying types of bar waiter/waitresses are caterer/server, bartender server, and fine dining server.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Runner | $25,536 | $2,128 | $12.28 | 240,853 |
| Server/Barista | $30,749 | $2,562 | $14.78 | 173,073 |
| Server And Certified Trainer | $30,423 | $2,535 | $14.63 | 131,460 |
| Food Server | $25,209 | $2,101 | $12.12 | 125,455 |
| Fine Dining Server | $32,140 | $2,678 | $15.45 | 77,549 |
| Cocktail Server | $26,178 | $2,181 | $12.59 | 74,674 |
Top companies hiring bar waiter/waitresses now:
Which companies pay bar waiter/waitresses the most?
Bar waiter/waitress salaries at Compass Group USA and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average bar waiter/waitress salary at companies like Knollwood Country Club and Unidine are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Compass Group USA | $30,187 | $14.51 |
| 2 | Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts | $29,256 | $14.07 |
| 3 | Knollwood Country Club | $28,647 | $13.77 |
| 4 | Unidine | $28,608 | $13.75 |
| 5 | Macy's | $28,160 | $13.54 |
| 6 | Bloomingdale's | $25,618 | $12.32 |
| 7 | Sodexo Management, Inc. | $25,497 | $12.26 |
| 8 | Morrison | $25,419 | $12.22 |
| 9 | Crossroads Diversified Services | $25,259 | $12.14 |
| 10 | Chief of staff | $25,238 | $12.13 |
| 11 | Woodharbor Custom Cabinetry | $25,052 | $12.04 |
| 12 | Pride International | $24,882 | $11.96 |
| 13 | Grand Casino | $24,874 | $11.96 |
| 14 | Jackie International | $24,847 | $11.95 |
| 15 | Vail Resorts | $24,811 | $11.93 |
| 16 | IHOP | $24,433 | $11.75 |
| 17 | Sanderling Resort | $24,411 | $11.74 |
| 18 | Brookville Country Club | $24,181 | $11.63 |
| 19 | Bar Harbor Inn | $24,066 | $11.57 |
| 20 | Fresh Meadow Country Club | $24,037 | $11.56 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Bar waiter/waitress salary trends
The average bar waiter/waitress salary has risen by $5,413 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average bar waiter/waitress earned $19,440 annually, but today, they earn $24,853 a year. That works out to a 19% change in pay for bar waiter/waitresses over the last decade.
Compare bar waiter/waitress salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average bar waiter/waitress salary over time
Compare bar waiter/waitress salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Bar waiter/waitress salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $24,900 | $11.95 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $24,000 | $11.52 | +4.8% |
| 2023 | $22,800 | $10.96 | +4.4% |
| 2022 | $21,800 | $10.48 | +4.0% |
| 2021 | $20,900 | $10.06 | +3.7% |
Recently added bar waiter/waitress salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compass Group, North America | Waiter/Waitress | Palm Desert, CA | 06/27/2025 | $36,523 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Waiter/Waitress | Fort Worth, TX | 06/26/2025 | $29,218 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Waiter/Waitress | De Pere, WI | 06/26/2025 | $20,870 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Waiter/Waitress | Fairfield, CT | 06/26/2025 | $35,479 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Waiter/Waitress | Sterling, VA | 06/26/2025 | $45,914 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Waiter/Waitress and | Wichita, KS | 06/26/2025 | $27,131 |
| Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel | Sports Bar Wait Staff | Morton, MN | 06/20/2025 | $29,218 |
| Compass Group Careers | Waiter/Waitress | Downe, NJ | 06/18/2025 | $34,436 |
| Compass Group, North America | Waiter/Waitress and | New London, CT | 06/12/2025 | $45,914 |
| Flavour Bistro | Waiter-Waitress | Monroe, WA | 06/10/2025 | $32,870 |
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