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Waitress salary
Average waitress salary
$11.91
Average Waitress Salary
The average salary for a waitress in the United States is approximately $24,770 per year, translating to around $12 per hour. However, this can significantly vary based on factors such as location, experience level, and the type of establishment where one is employed.
Regional Salary Variations
For instance, waitresses in urban areas or high-end restaurants often earn more than those in smaller towns or casual dining venues. States such as California and New York typically offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled service staff. Conversely, states with lower living costs may offer lower average salaries.
Experience Matters
Experience also plays a crucial role in determining salary. Entry-level waitresses may start at lower wages, but those with several years in the industry can expect increases in pay and opportunities for tips. Additionally, specialized positions, such as those in fine dining or catering, often command higher wages.
Conclusion
Understanding these salary dynamics can help aspiring waitresses make informed decisions about their career paths and seek out opportunities that align with their financial goals.
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Where can a Waitress earn more?
Waitress salary estimates from across the web
Average waitress salary by state
The highest-paying states for waitresses are New York, Massachusetts, and California. The lowest average waitress salary states are North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Louisiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for waitresses
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $29,566 | $14.21 |
| 2 | New York | $32,853 | $15.79 |
| 3 | West Virginia | $26,407 | $12.70 |
| 4 | Colorado | $26,884 | $12.93 |
| 5 | Michigan | $24,916 | $11.98 |
| 6 | California | $30,740 | $14.78 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $34,940 | $16.80 |
| 8 | Vermont | $30,692 | $14.76 |
| 9 | Washington | $29,817 | $14.34 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $30,992 | $14.90 |
| 11 | Oregon | $27,788 | $13.36 |
| 12 | Illinois | $25,700 | $12.36 |
| 13 | Maine | $26,909 | $12.94 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $24,126 | $11.60 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $26,690 | $12.83 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $24,307 | $11.69 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $25,885 | $12.44 |
| 18 | Missouri | $23,893 | $11.49 |
| 19 | Delaware | $25,330 | $12.18 |
| 20 | Florida | $23,051 | $11.08 |
| 21 | Maryland | $26,208 | $12.60 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $22,190 | $10.67 |
| 23 | Nevada | $22,365 | $10.75 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $25,292 | $12.16 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $24,694 | $11.87 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $21,257 | $10.22 |
| 28 | Ohio | $21,723 | $10.44 |
| 29 | Kansas | $22,353 | $10.75 |
| 30 | Indiana | $21,752 | $10.46 |
| 31 | Iowa | $22,659 | $10.89 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $22,533 | $10.83 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $23,533 | $11.31 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $21,690 | $10.43 |
| 35 | Georgia | $22,232 | $10.69 |
| 36 | Virginia | $23,071 | $11.09 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $20,814 | $10.01 |
| 38 | Idaho | $22,240 | $10.69 |
| 39 | Utah | $22,038 | $10.60 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $20,508 | $9.86 |
| 41 | Texas | $19,482 | $9.37 |
| 42 | Alabama | $20,462 | $9.84 |
| 43 | Alaska | $23,303 | $11.20 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $21,369 | $10.27 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $20,230 | $9.73 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $19,549 | $9.40 |
| 47 | Montana | $19,394 | $9.32 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $20,895 | $10.05 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $18,371 | $8.83 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $19,790 | $9.51 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $20,442 | $9.83 |
Highest paying cities for waitresses
The highest-paying cities for waitresses are Washington, DC, New York, NY, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $34,909 | $16.78 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $32,834 | $15.79 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $30,983 | $14.90 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $30,575 | $14.70 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $29,848 | $14.35 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $29,571 | $14.22 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $26,927 | $12.95 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $25,717 | $12.36 |
| 9 | Nashua, NH | $24,292 | $11.68 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $24,201 | $11.64 |
| 11 | Norfolk, VA | $23,075 | $11.09 |
| 12 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $23,071 | $11.09 |
| 13 | Mason City, IA | $22,626 | $10.88 |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $22,375 | $10.76 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $22,241 | $10.69 |
| 16 | Sandy, UT | $22,009 | $10.58 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $21,678 | $10.42 |
| 18 | Santa Fe, NM | $21,327 | $10.25 |
| 19 | Lincoln, NE | $20,485 | $9.85 |
| 20 | Raleigh, NC | $20,256 | $9.74 |
Waitresses are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Waitress salary details
A waitress's salary ranges from $17,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $35,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a waitress's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| 75th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| Average | $24,770 | $2,064 | $12 |
| 25th Percentile | $20,000 | $1,667 | $10 |
| 10th Percentile | $17,000 | $1,417 | $8 |
Highest paying waitress jobs
The highest paying types of 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 |
| Restaurant Server | $24,558 | $2,047 | $11.81 | 141,250 |
| Food Server | $25,209 | $2,101 | $12.12 | 125,455 |
| Cook/Server | $29,716 | $2,476 | $14.29 | 257,582 |
| Bus Person | $24,058 | $2,005 | $11.57 | 47,277 |
| Fine Dining Server | $32,140 | $2,678 | $15.45 | 77,549 |
Top companies hiring waitresses now:
Which companies pay waitresses the most?
Waitress salaries at New York Institute of Technology and Watersedge Restaurant are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average waitress salary at companies like Pine Hollow Country Club and Country Club Roswell are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York Institute of Technology | $43,735 | $21.03 |
| 2 | Watersedge Restaurant | $34,310 | $16.50 |
| 3 | Pine Hollow Country Club | $32,745 | $15.74 |
| 4 | Country Club Roswell | $32,722 | $15.73 |
| 5 | Kirby | $32,211 | $15.49 |
| 6 | Wequassett Resort and Golf Club | $32,038 | $15.40 |
| 7 | Erickson Senior Living | $31,431 | $15.11 |
| 8 | Radisson Hotels International Inc | $31,023 | $14.91 |
| 9 | Trinity Health | $30,704 | $14.76 |
| 10 | Hyatt Hotels | $30,419 | $14.62 |
| 11 | Transforming Age | $30,336 | $14.58 |
| 12 | Eastmont School District | $30,277 | $14.56 |
| 13 | Hyde Park Golf & Country Club | $29,546 | $14.20 |
| 14 | Peterson Meadows Retirement Community | $29,528 | $14.20 |
| 15 | Bertucci's | $29,299 | $14.09 |
| 16 | Main Event | $29,116 | $14.00 |
| 17 | Glory Days Grill | $29,038 | $13.96 |
| 18 | Five Star Senior Living | $28,740 | $13.82 |
| 19 | WesleyLife | $28,703 | $13.80 |
| 20 | Interstate Hotels & Resorts | $28,604 | $13.75 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Waitress salary trends
The average waitress salary has risen by $5,394 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average waitress earned $19,376 annually, but today, they earn $24,770 a year. That works out to a 19% change in pay for waitresses over the last decade.
Compare waitress salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average waitress salary over time
Compare waitress salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Waitress salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $24,800 | $11.91 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $23,900 | $11.48 | +4.8% |
| 2023 | $22,700 | $10.93 | +4.4% |
| 2022 | $21,700 | $10.44 | +4.0% |
| 2021 | $20,900 | $10.03 | +3.7% |
Recently added waitress salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sodexo S A | Wait Staff Non-Tipped | SeaTac, WA | 06/27/2025 | $41,135 |
| Sodexo | Wait Staff Tipped | Huntington, WV | 06/26/2025 | $25,044 |
| Sodexo S A | Wait Staff Tipped | Huntington, WV | 06/26/2025 | $25,044 |
| Sodexo S A | Wait Staff Non-Tipped | Denver, CO | 06/26/2025 | $54,262 |
| Sodexo S A | Wait Staff Tipped | Los Angeles, CA | 06/26/2025 | $43,827 |
| Department of The Air Force | Waiter | Enon, VA | 06/26/2025 | $35,479 |
| Sodexo S A | Wait Staff Non-Tipped | New York, NY | 06/25/2025 | $41,218 |
| Sodexo S A | Wait Staff Non-Tipped | Cedar Rapids, IA | 06/25/2025 | $29,218 |
| Sodexo S A | Airport Lounge Wait Staff | Philadelphia, PA | 06/25/2025 | $41,218 |
| Sodexo S A | Wait Staff Non-Tipped | Birmingham, AL | 06/25/2025 | $23,854 |
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