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Informal waiter/waitress salary
Average informal waiter/waitress salary
$11.71
Understanding Informal Waiter/Waitress Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for an Informal Waiter/Waitress stands at around $24,354 annually, translating to about $12 per hour. Salaries vary based on several factors, including geographical location, years of experience, and the type of establishment. Urban areas typically offer higher wages due to increased demand and cost of living.
Where to Earn More
States like California and New York frequently report higher salaries for waitstaff, reflecting both a higher cost of living and greater customer bases. Additionally, restaurants with a strong reputation or high-volume venues often pay a premium for skilled workers.
Job Opportunities
With numerous positions available in restaurants, cafes, and bars, there are ample opportunities for those looking to enter the hospitality industry. Gaining experience and developing strong customer service skills can enhance job prospects and potential earnings. Exploring part-time roles can also be a great way to gain experience while studying or pursuing other career interests.
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Where can an Informal Waiter/Waitress earn more?
Average informal waiter/waitress salary by state
The average informal waiter/waitress salary in New York, Maine, and Hawaii are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average informal waiter/waitress salary states are North Carolina, Kansas, and Louisiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for informal waiter/waitresses
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $29,114 | $14.00 |
| 2 | Colorado | $27,454 | $13.20 |
| 3 | New York | $33,868 | $16.28 |
| 4 | Maine | $30,750 | $14.78 |
| 5 | Michigan | $25,041 | $12.04 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $27,993 | $13.46 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $29,836 | $14.34 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $34,496 | $16.58 |
| 9 | Washington | $28,125 | $13.52 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $26,053 | $12.53 |
| 11 | Vermont | $30,290 | $14.56 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $27,795 | $13.36 |
| 13 | Texas | $23,694 | $11.39 |
| 14 | California | $27,677 | $13.31 |
| 15 | Missouri | $23,617 | $11.35 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $23,453 | $11.28 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $27,048 | $13.00 |
| 18 | Alaska | $26,675 | $12.82 |
| 19 | Idaho | $24,813 | $11.93 |
| 20 | Tennessee | $22,518 | $10.83 |
| 21 | Delaware | $24,908 | $11.97 |
| 22 | Florida | $22,901 | $11.01 |
| 23 | Oregon | $25,508 | $12.26 |
| 24 | Arkansas | $23,837 | $11.46 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $24,446 | $11.75 |
| 26 | Iowa | $22,614 | $10.87 |
| 27 | Utah | $23,767 | $11.43 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $30,553 | $14.69 |
| 29 | Nevada | $21,894 | $10.53 |
| 30 | Maryland | $24,693 | $11.87 |
| 31 | Montana | $21,826 | $10.49 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $21,949 | $10.55 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $22,846 | $10.98 |
| 34 | Illinois | $22,687 | $10.91 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $21,250 | $10.22 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $22,517 | $10.83 |
| 37 | Ohio | $21,037 | $10.11 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $22,371 | $10.76 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $22,459 | $10.80 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $20,897 | $10.05 |
| 41 | Georgia | $20,281 | $9.75 |
| 42 | Alabama | $20,924 | $10.06 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $20,263 | $9.74 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $20,484 | $9.85 |
| 45 | Indiana | $18,719 | $9.00 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $18,613 | $8.95 |
| 47 | North Dakota | $20,895 | $10.05 |
| 48 | Virginia | $20,963 | $10.08 |
| 49 | Kansas | $20,067 | $9.65 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $19,487 | $9.37 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $19,044 | $9.16 |
Highest paying cities for informal waiter/waitresses
The highest-paying cities for informal waiter/waitresses are Saratoga Springs, NY, Boston, MA, and Grand Junction, CO.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saratoga Springs, NY | $34,674 | $16.67 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $27,859 | $13.39 |
| 3 | Grand Junction, CO | $27,561 | $13.25 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $27,552 | $13.25 |
| 5 | Grand Rapids, MI | $25,007 | $12.02 |
| 6 | Nampa, ID | $24,925 | $11.98 |
| 7 | Odessa, TX | $23,769 | $11.43 |
| 8 | Saint Louis, MO | $23,605 | $11.35 |
| 9 | Dunedin, FL | $22,934 | $11.03 |
| 10 | Palatine, IL | $22,667 | $10.90 |
| 11 | Bowling Green, OH | $21,056 | $10.12 |
| 12 | Arlington, VA | $21,009 | $10.10 |
| 13 | Greenville, SC | $20,939 | $10.07 |
| 14 | Omaha, NE | $20,546 | $9.88 |
| 15 | Durham, NC | $20,325 | $9.77 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $20,320 | $9.77 |
Informal waiter/waitress salary details
An informal waiter/waitress's salary ranges from $16,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $36,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an informal waiter/waitress's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 75th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| Average | $24,354 | $2,030 | $12 |
| 25th Percentile | $19,000 | $1,583 | $9 |
| 10th Percentile | $16,000 | $1,333 | $8 |
Highest paying informal waiter/waitress jobs
The highest paying types of informal waiter/waitresses are head server, server manager, and caterer/server.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Runner | $25,536 | $2,128 | $12.28 | 240,853 |
| Server Manager | $61,639 | $5,137 | $29.63 | 153,999 |
| Restaurant Server | $24,558 | $2,047 | $11.81 | 141,250 |
| Banquet Server | $29,017 | $2,418 | $13.95 | 125,381 |
| Server And Certified Trainer | $30,423 | $2,535 | $14.63 | 131,460 |
| Food Server | $25,209 | $2,101 | $12.12 | 125,455 |
Top companies hiring informal waiter/waitresses now:
Which companies pay informal waiter/waitresses the most?
Informal waiter/waitress salaries at Aspen Snowmass and Hyatt Hotels are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average informal waiter/waitress salary at companies like Compass Group USA and Unidine are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aspen Snowmass | $39,150 | $18.82 |
| 2 | Hyatt Hotels | $30,831 | $14.82 |
| 3 | Compass Group USA | $30,520 | $14.67 |
| 4 | Unidine | $28,290 | $13.60 |
| 5 | Macy's | $28,203 | $13.56 |
| 6 | Stafford Elementary School | $27,962 | $13.44 |
| 7 | St. Andrews Country Club | $27,570 | $13.25 |
| 8 | Brandywine Living | $27,155 | $13.06 |
| 9 | Old Chicago | $27,136 | $13.05 |
| 10 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $26,199 | $12.60 |
| 11 | Bloomingdale's | $25,958 | $12.48 |
| 12 | Lake Shore Country Club | $25,946 | $12.47 |
| 13 | Frisch's Big Boy | $25,858 | $12.43 |
| 14 | The Sea Pines Resort | $25,142 | $12.09 |
| 15 | Morrison | $25,018 | $12.03 |
| 16 | St. Regis Aspen Resort | $24,998 | $12.02 |
| 17 | Hyatt Regency Dallas | $24,994 | $12.02 |
| 18 | M R Co | $24,951 | $12.00 |
| 19 | R.M. Schulte & Associates | $24,742 | $11.90 |
| 20 | Hilton | $24,322 | $11.69 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Informal waiter/waitress salary trends
The average informal waiter/waitress salary has risen by $5,304 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average informal waiter/waitress earned $19,050 annually, but today, they earn $24,354 a year. That works out to a 19% change in pay for informal waiter/waitresses over the last decade.
Compare informal waiter/waitress salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average informal waiter/waitress salary over time
Compare informal waiter/waitress salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Informal waiter/waitress salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $24,400 | $11.71 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $23,500 | $11.29 | +4.8% |
| 2023 | $22,300 | $10.74 | +4.4% |
| 2022 | $21,400 | $10.27 | +4.0% |
| 2021 | $20,500 | $9.86 | +3.7% |
Recently added informal waiter/waitress salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compass Group, North America | Waiter/Waitress and | Los Angeles, CA | 06/28/2025 | $52,655 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Waiter/Waitress | New York, NY | 06/26/2025 | $43,827 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Waiter/Waitress and | Damariscotta, ME | 06/26/2025 | $38,610 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Waiter/Waitress | Boston, MA | 06/26/2025 | $45,914 |
| Compass Group, North America | Waiter/Waitress and | Madison, WI | 06/20/2025 | $35,479 |
| Compass Group, North America | Waiter/Waitress | Saint Paul, MN | 06/14/2025 | $33,392 |
| Compass Group, North America | Waiter/Waitress and | Frankfort, IN | 06/13/2025 | $32,244 |
| Compass Group, North America | Waiter/Waitress and | Atlanta, GA | 06/12/2025 | $31,305 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Waiter/Waitress | Durham, NC | 05/28/2025 | $29,218 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Waiter/Waitress | Fairfield, CT | 05/20/2025 | $35,479 |
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