Waiters and Waitresses Salary — US State Breakdown (2025)
BLS OES May 2025 · SOC 35-3031As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links below are affiliate links.
US Salary Overview
The national median wage for waiters and waitresses in the United States is $35,230 per year, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). Pay ranges from $18,100 at the 10th percentile to $64,720 at the 90th percentile. In the UK, the equivalent occupation (Waiters and waitresses) has a median of £10,000 — figures are shown in local currency and are not converted. Heading for a US interview? Interview prep guides cover the standard question frameworks.
US Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual (gross) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $18,100 | Entry level / lowest decile |
| 25th | $27,750 | Early career |
| 50th (median) | $35,230 | Typical pay |
| 75th | $47,110 | Experienced |
| 90th | $64,720 | Senior / highest decile |
Career Essentials
Role-specific interview prep for this occupation.
Check Price →Median Salary by State
| State | Median salary | Mean salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $62,390 | $68,260 | 14,000 |
| Vermont | $59,140 | $58,850 | 4,000 |
| Washington | $56,130 | $60,590 | 45,000 |
| Oregon | $48,410 | $52,400 | 23,000 |
| District of Columbia | $47,850 | $59,510 | 12,000 |
| New York | $47,020 | $54,750 | 143,000 |
| New Jersey | $44,960 | $50,260 | 56,000 |
| Colorado | $44,860 | $51,240 | 41,000 |
| Virginia | $44,760 | $46,680 | 59,000 |
| Arizona | $43,950 | $51,170 | 56,000 |
| Maine | $43,370 | $51,260 | 9,000 |
| Massachusetts | $38,460 | $44,480 | 55,000 |
| New Hampshire | $38,430 | $43,380 | 10,000 |
| Connecticut | $37,770 | $46,220 | 22,000 |
| Michigan | $37,760 | $44,910 | 65,000 |
| New Mexico | $36,920 | $43,210 | 13,000 |
| Delaware | $36,880 | $43,070 | 8,000 |
| Maryland | $36,750 | $43,950 | 38,000 |
| Ohio | $36,700 | $42,190 | 77,000 |
| Virgin Islands | $36,340 | $44,640 | 690 |
| Florida | $36,150 | $41,840 | 207,000 |
| Kansas | $36,120 | $39,170 | 19,000 |
| California | $36,080 | $44,600 | 230,000 |
| Rhode Island | $35,420 | $42,740 | 10,000 |
| West Virginia | $35,380 | $38,350 | 9,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,690 | $38,110 | 82,000 |
| Nebraska | $33,770 | $39,590 | 13,000 |
| North Carolina | $32,150 | $37,850 | 72,000 |
| Illinois | $31,200 | $35,610 | 73,000 |
| Utah | $31,150 | $37,360 | 18,000 |
| North Dakota | $30,890 | $36,250 | 5,000 |
| Idaho | $30,050 | $35,320 | 11,000 |
| Wisconsin | $29,670 | $34,570 | 36,000 |
| Kentucky | $29,660 | $35,410 | 27,000 |
| Missouri | $29,400 | $38,620 | 42,000 |
| South Dakota | $28,990 | $30,860 | 7,000 |
| Indiana | $28,480 | $31,170 | 44,000 |
| Tennessee | $27,760 | $29,070 | 52,000 |
| Alabama | $26,840 | $27,200 | 29,000 |
| Nevada | $26,410 | $36,870 | 43,000 |
| Alaska | $26,310 | $33,640 | 4,000 |
| Minnesota | $25,470 | $30,060 | 38,000 |
| Arkansas | $24,680 | $29,050 | 18,000 |
| Wyoming | $23,920 | $31,120 | 4,000 |
| Montana | $23,370 | $29,180 | 7,000 |
| Texas | $23,240 | $29,750 | 200,000 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,790 | $29,690 | 12,000 |
| Mississippi | $21,370 | $24,680 | 15,000 |
| Iowa | $21,000 | $26,940 | 22,000 |
| Guam | $20,320 | $21,250 | 2,000 |
| Georgia | $18,700 | $26,610 | 76,000 |
| South Carolina | $18,370 | $25,900 | 47,000 |
| Oklahoma | $17,910 | $25,870 | 27,000 |
| Louisiana | $15,080 | $22,350 | 34,000 |
Recommended Gear & Prep
Many people pair this data with a salary negotiation guide before accepting an offer.
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Data: BLS OES, May 2025 · ONS ASHE Table 14/15, 2025 provisional · Page built 2026-07-18