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Sommelier salary
Average sommelier salary
$40,584
Exploring Sommelier Salaries
The average salary for a sommelier in the United States is approximately $40,584 per year, translating to around $20 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on several factors:
- Location: Sommeliers in states like California and New York tend to earn higher salaries due to the demand for wine expertise in fine dining establishments.
- Experience: Those with several years of experience often command higher salaries, reflecting their advanced knowledge and skills.
- Sector: Working in upscale restaurants or private wineries can lead to better compensation compared to casual dining.
Additionally, sommeliers can enhance their earning potential through certifications and specialized training, which are highly regarded in the industry. Understanding the nuances of the job market can help individuals better navigate their career paths and salary negotiations.
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Where can a Sommelier earn more?
Sommelier salary estimates from across the web
Average sommelier salary by state
The average sommelier salary in New York, Arizona, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average sommelier salary states are Indiana, Montana, and Oklahoma.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for sommeliers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $53,791 | $25.86 |
| 2 | New York | $62,719 | $30.15 |
| 3 | California | $47,083 | $22.64 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $41,687 | $20.04 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $44,686 | $21.48 |
| 6 | Vermont | $43,017 | $20.68 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $60,152 | $28.92 |
| 8 | Delaware | $43,528 | $20.93 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $46,573 | $22.39 |
| 10 | Michigan | $41,785 | $20.09 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $40,242 | $19.35 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $46,426 | $22.32 |
| 13 | Maryland | $43,131 | $20.74 |
| 14 | Nevada | $36,321 | $17.46 |
| 15 | Alaska | $44,757 | $21.52 |
| 16 | Texas | $39,383 | $18.93 |
| 17 | Washington | $43,164 | $20.75 |
| 18 | Florida | $36,520 | $17.56 |
| 19 | Colorado | $36,499 | $17.55 |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $42,772 | $20.56 |
| 21 | Oregon | $39,102 | $18.80 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $34,492 | $16.58 |
| 23 | Maine | $38,782 | $18.65 |
| 24 | Arkansas | $35,897 | $17.26 |
| 25 | Ohio | $33,613 | $16.16 |
| 26 | Virginia | $38,412 | $18.47 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $36,724 | $17.66 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $45,019 | $21.64 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $34,954 | $16.80 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $36,639 | $17.61 |
| 31 | Georgia | $33,172 | $15.95 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $36,266 | $17.44 |
| 33 | Missouri | $33,403 | $16.06 |
| 34 | Alabama | $33,744 | $16.22 |
| 35 | Illinois | $34,452 | $16.56 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $32,441 | $15.60 |
| 37 | Idaho | $32,512 | $15.63 |
| 38 | Iowa | $32,591 | $15.67 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $32,012 | $15.39 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $33,519 | $16.11 |
| 41 | Montana | $28,549 | $13.73 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $27,858 | $13.39 |
| 43 | Utah | $32,058 | $15.41 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $27,822 | $13.38 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $27,747 | $13.34 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $31,870 | $15.32 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $31,170 | $14.99 |
| 48 | Indiana | $28,619 | $13.76 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $30,717 | $14.77 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $30,541 | $14.68 |
| 51 | Kansas | $27,743 | $13.34 |
Highest paying cities for sommeliers
The highest-paying cities for sommeliers are New York, NY, Washington, DC, and Tempe, AZ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $63,040 | $30.31 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $60,166 | $28.93 |
| 3 | Tempe, AZ | $53,752 | $25.84 |
| 4 | Santa Barbara, CA | $47,764 | $22.96 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $43,181 | $20.76 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $42,576 | $20.47 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $39,679 | $19.08 |
| 8 | Orlando, FL | $36,919 | $17.75 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $36,368 | $17.48 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $34,581 | $16.63 |
| 12 | Savannah, GA | $33,520 | $16.12 |
Sommelier salary details
A sommelier's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $68,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a sommelier's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
| 75th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
| Average | $40,584 | $3,382 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
Highest paying sommelier jobs
The highest paying types of sommeliers are head server, server manager, and caterer/server.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waitress | $24,770 | $2,064 | $11.91 | 87,315 |
| Cocktail Waitress | $26,819 | $2,235 | $12.89 | 77,429 |
| Bartender, Cook, And Waitress | $27,827 | $2,319 | $13.38 | 162,319 |
| Fine Dining Server | $32,140 | $2,678 | $15.45 | 77,549 |
| Server And Hostess | $28,020 | $2,335 | $13.47 | 97,109 |
| Restaurant Server | $24,558 | $2,047 | $11.81 | 141,250 |
Which companies pay sommeliers the most?
Sommelier salaries at Del Frisco's Restaurant Group and Whim Hospitality are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average sommelier salary at companies like Lettuce Entertain You and Maggiano's Little Italy are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Del Frisco's Restaurant Group | $49,186 | $23.65 |
| 2 | Whim Hospitality | $44,571 | $21.43 |
| 3 | Lettuce Entertain You | $42,155 | $20.27 |
| 4 | Maggiano's Little Italy | $41,065 | $19.74 |
| 5 | Anthony | $40,967 | $19.70 |
| 6 | Insignia Systems | $40,935 | $19.68 |
| 7 | The Blackstone | $40,859 | $19.64 |
| 8 | Monarch Casino & Resort | $40,124 | $19.29 |
| 9 | Black Enterprise | $39,937 | $19.20 |
| 10 | Outback Steakhouse | $39,913 | $19.19 |
| 11 | Hakkasan Group | $39,822 | $19.15 |
| 12 | Komodo Health | $39,356 | $18.92 |
| 13 | Contessa Health | $39,146 | $18.82 |
| 14 | Cosme De Net Company Limited | $39,124 | $18.81 |
| 15 | Del-Mar Inc | $39,124 | $18.81 |
| 16 | Benu Networks | $39,124 | $18.81 |
| 17 | Donut Management Inc | $39,124 | $18.81 |
| 18 | Proper Hospitality | $38,983 | $18.74 |
| 19 | Aimbridge Hospitality | $38,746 | $18.63 |
| 20 | Harry's Seafood | $38,681 | $18.60 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Sommelier salary trends
The average sommelier salary has risen by $8,838 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average sommelier earned $31,746 annually, but today, they earn $40,584 a year. That works out to a 19% change in pay for sommeliers over the last decade.
Compare sommelier salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average sommelier salary over time
Compare sommelier salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Sommelier salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $40,600 | $19.51 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $39,100 | $18.81 | +4.8% |
| 2023 | $37,200 | $17.90 | +4.4% |
| 2022 | $35,600 | $17.11 | +4.0% |
| 2021 | $34,200 | $16.43 | +3.7% |
Recently added sommelier salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arva | Sommelier | New York, NY | 06/27/2025 | $34,436 |
| Landry's | Sommelier (Upscale/Fine Dining) | Houston, TX | 06/26/2025 | $22,957 |
| Accorhotel | Sommelier | New York, NY | 06/26/2025 | $41,740 |
| Four Seasons Hotels Ltd. | Sommelier | Chicago, IL | 06/24/2025 | $52,175 |
| Shhotelsandresorts | Sommelier/Wine Director | Fine, NY | 06/22/2025 | $115,000 |
| JosÉ AndrÉS Group | Sommelier | New York, NY | 06/21/2025 | $34,436 |
| Starwood Hotels | Sommelier/Wine Director | Fine, NY | 06/21/2025 | $115,000 |
| Marriott | Sommelier Supervisor | Clayton, MO | 06/20/2025 | $60,523 |
| Sh Hotels | Sommelier/Wine Director | New York, NY | 06/20/2025 | $115,000 |
| Jose Andres Group | Sommelier | New York, NY | 06/18/2025 | $34,436 |
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