Best cities for a waitstaff
The best cities for waitstaffs are Bakersfield, CA, Phoenix, AZ, and Mesa, AZ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for waitstaffs vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for waitstaffs in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a waitstaff or considering a move, this list of the best cities for waitstaffs to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for waitstaffs. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a waitstaff. While the absolute best city for waitstaffs is Bakersfield, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for waitstaffs in 2024.
If you're looking for a waitstaff job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for waitstaffs in 2026
1. Bakersfield, CA
Total waitstaff jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $33,384 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 11.02 2. Phoenix, AZ
Total waitstaff jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $30,008 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location quotient: 1.33 3. Mesa, AZ
Total waitstaff jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $29,957 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location quotient: 1.76 4. Glendale, AZ
Total waitstaff jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $30,024 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Chandler, AZ
Total waitstaff jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $29,979 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. San Francisco, CA
Total waitstaff jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $33,808 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Scottsdale, AZ
Total waitstaff jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $29,968 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. San Jose, CA
Total waitstaff jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $33,764 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Gilbert, AZ
Total waitstaff jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $29,964 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Oakland, CA
Total waitstaff jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $33,757 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for waitstaffs
- Bakersfield, CA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Mesa, AZ
- Glendale, AZ
- Chandler, AZ
- San Francisco, CA
- Scottsdale, AZ
- San Jose, CA
- Gilbert, AZ
- Oakland, CA
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Detailed list of the best cities for a waitstaff
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bakersfield, CA | $33,384 | $25,000 | 376,380 | 12 |
| 2 | Phoenix, AZ | $30,008 | $22,000 | 1,615,017 | 20 |
| 3 | Mesa, AZ | $29,957 | $22,000 | 484,587 | 2 |
| 4 | Glendale, AZ | $30,024 | $22,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 5 | Chandler, AZ | $29,979 | $22,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $33,808 | $25,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 7 | Scottsdale, AZ | $29,968 | $22,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 8 | San Jose, CA | $33,764 | $25,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 9 | Gilbert, AZ | $29,964 | $22,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 10 | Oakland, CA | $33,757 | $25,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 11 | Fremont, CA | $33,742 | $25,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 12 | Tucson, AZ | $29,865 | $22,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 13 | Boston, MA | $34,199 | $28,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 14 | Seattle, WA | $31,287 | $24,000 | 704,352 | 4 |
| 15 | Stockton, CA | $33,480 | $25,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 16 | Los Angeles, CA | $33,378 | $25,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 17 | Cincinnati, OH | $22,701 | $17,000 | 298,800 | 7 |
| 18 | Sacramento, CA | $33,371 | $25,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 19 | Saint Paul, MN | $30,144 | $23,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 20 | Kansas City, MO | $25,273 | $19,000 | 481,420 | 15 |
| 21 | Wichita, KS | $23,504 | $18,000 | 389,902 | 9 |
| 22 | Fresno, CA | $33,362 | $25,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 23 | Minneapolis, MN | $30,137 | $23,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 24 | Toledo, OH | $23,087 | $17,000 | 278,508 | 1 |
| 25 | Long Beach, CA | $33,342 | $25,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 26 | Brookhaven, NY | $31,548 | $24,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 27 | Anaheim, CA | $33,275 | $25,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 28 | San Diego, CA | $33,139 | $25,000 | 1,406,630 | 3 |
| 29 | Islip, NY | $31,488 | $24,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 30 | Santa Ana, CA | $33,268 | $25,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 31 | Columbus, OH | $22,849 | $17,000 | 860,090 | 10 |
| 32 | Irvine, CA | $33,245 | $25,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 33 | Austin, TX | $23,316 | $17,000 | 947,890 | 18 |
| 34 | Washington, DC | $35,225 | $27,000 | 681,170 | - |
| 35 | Chula Vista, CA | $33,139 | $25,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 36 | Riverside, CA | $33,139 | $25,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 37 | Oyster Bay, NY | $31,466 | $24,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 38 | Albuquerque, NM | $22,577 | $17,000 | 559,277 | 14 |
| 39 | Hempstead, NY | $31,406 | $24,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 40 | New York, NY | $31,363 | $24,000 | 8,537,673 | 4 |
| 41 | Portland, OR | $27,139 | $20,000 | 639,863 | 8 |
| 42 | San Antonio, TX | $23,339 | $17,000 | 1,492,510 | 5 |
| 43 | Nashville, TN | $24,172 | $18,000 | 660,388 | 1 |
| 44 | Arlington, TX | $23,291 | $17,000 | 392,772 | 1 |
| 45 | Saint Louis, MO | $25,306 | $19,000 | 311,404 | 5 |
| 46 | Memphis, TN | $24,165 | $18,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 47 | Buffalo, NY | $31,083 | $24,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 48 | Colorado Springs, CO | $27,540 | $21,000 | 465,101 | 4 |
| 49 | Detroit, MI | $24,072 | $18,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 50 | Philadelphia, PA | $25,748 | $19,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
Highest paying cities for waitstaffs
| Rank | City | Avg. waitstaff salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Falmouth, MA | $34,225 |
| 2 | Bakersfield, CA | $33,384 |
| 3 | Wallingford, CT | $30,468 |
| 4 | White Bear Lake, MN | $30,159 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $30,008 |
| 6 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $28,786 |
| 7 | Portland, ME | $28,478 |
| 8 | Salem, OR | $27,333 |
| 9 | Springfield, MO | $25,255 |
| 10 | Tallahassee, FL | $24,146 |
| 11 | Chattanooga, TN | $24,139 |
| 12 | Dearborn, MI | $24,050 |
| 13 | Little Rock, AR | $23,912 |
| 14 | Wichita, KS | $23,504 |
| 15 | San Antonio, TX | $23,339 |
| 16 | Des Moines, IA | $22,728 |
| 17 | Cincinnati, OH | $22,701 |
| 18 | Albuquerque, NM | $22,577 |
| 19 | Gainesville, GA | $22,488 |
| 20 | Las Vegas, NV | $22,107 |
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Updated January 8, 2025