Waiters and Waitresses salary by city
Median pay for waiters and waitresses in 103 metropolitan areas covered by this index, measured by the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). The median annual wage runs from $15,080 in Baton Rouge, LA to $60,250 in Urban Honolulu, HI.
Waiters and Waitresses pay at a glance
Highest median wage
$60,250
Urban Honolulu, HI
Lowest median wage
$15,080
Baton Rouge, LA
Midpoint of the range
$35,850
half the covered metros pay more, half pay less
People employed
2,431,580
across the covered metropolitan areas
Median wage covers the median rent
5 of 103
metros where the wage keeps rent at 30% of gross pay or less
Typical rent share
52.3%
median rent as a share of the median wage, averaged over the metros
Median waiters and waitresses wage by city
Sorted from the highest median wage to the lowest
| City | Median wage | Mean wage | Employment | Rent share | vs. midpoint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $60,250 | $61,880 | 8,550 | 35.5% | +68.1% |
| Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $62,940 | 26,530 | 41.9% | +59.8% |
| Tacoma, WA | $57,280 | $62,940 | 26,530 | 33.5% | +59.8% |
| Portland, OR | $54,780 | $56,130 | 13,910 | 35.0% | +52.8% |
| Spokane, WA | $48,560 | $55,270 | 3,420 | 28.2% | +35.5% |
| New York, NY | $47,610 | $55,000 | 138,720 | 44.8% | +32.8% |
| Newark, NJ | $47,610 | $55,000 | 138,720 | 33.5% | +32.8% |
| Jersey City, NJ | $47,610 | $55,000 | 138,720 | 47.9% | +32.8% |
| Phoenix, AZ | $47,530 | $53,370 | 39,920 | 36.8% | +32.6% |
| Mesa, AZ | $47,530 | $53,370 | 39,920 | 37.3% | +32.6% |
| Chandler, AZ | $47,530 | $53,370 | 39,920 | 45.6% | +32.6% |
| Buffalo, NY | $46,580 | $54,310 | 7,990 | 25.5% | +29.9% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $46,230 | $49,910 | 4,330 | 40.5% | +29.0% |
| Washington, DC | $46,040 | $51,820 | 46,160 | 49.5% | +28.4% |
| Arlington, VA | $46,040 | $51,820 | 46,160 | 59.3% | +28.4% |
| Rochester, NY | $45,310 | $51,280 | 6,070 | 27.5% | +26.4% |
| San Jose, CA | $41,920 | $52,010 | 12,600 | 74.9% | +16.9% |
| Denver, CO | $39,650 | $51,870 | 20,750 | 53.6% | +10.6% |
| Aurora, CO | $39,650 | $51,870 | 20,750 | 53.2% | +10.6% |
| Boston, MA | $39,270 | $45,340 | 41,570 | 64.0% | +9.5% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $39,020 | $44,510 | 13,100 | 50.7% | +8.8% |
| Chesapeake, VA | $39,020 | $44,510 | 13,100 | 46.8% | +8.8% |
| Norfolk, VA | $39,020 | $44,510 | 13,100 | 38.3% | +8.8% |
| San Francisco, CA | $38,860 | $46,460 | 29,080 | 74.7% | +8.4% |
| Oakland, CA | $38,860 | $46,460 | 29,080 | 59.2% | +8.4% |
| Fremont, CA | $38,860 | $46,460 | 29,080 | 89.7% | +8.4% |
| Richmond, VA | $38,470 | $45,010 | 9,120 | 41.0% | +7.3% |
| Albuquerque, NM | $38,050 | $43,830 | 5,880 | 34.2% | +6.1% |
| Columbus, OH | $37,490 | $43,070 | 15,900 | 39.2% | +4.6% |
| Detroit, MI | $37,490 | $45,080 | 29,210 | 33.1% | +4.6% |
| Wichita, KS | $37,300 | $41,120 | 4,570 | 30.9% | +4.0% |
| Tampa, FL | $37,070 | $44,090 | 25,280 | 50.7% | +3.4% |
| St. Petersburg, FL | $37,070 | $44,090 | 25,280 | 49.9% | +3.4% |
| Worcester, MA | $36,840 | $42,310 | 4,610 | 46.1% | +2.8% |
| Cape Coral, FL | $36,660 | $42,470 | 7,980 | 57.3% | +2.3% |
| Jacksonville, FL | $36,630 | $42,480 | 13,140 | 45.0% | +2.2% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $36,570 | $41,390 | 41,900 | 43.4% | +2.0% |
| Cincinnati, OH | $36,530 | $44,740 | 17,790 | 31.3% | +1.9% |
| Tucson, AZ | $36,490 | $45,450 | 7,300 | 35.5% | +1.8% |
| Charlotte, NC | $36,430 | $40,850 | 19,990 | 49.5% | +1.6% |
| Cleveland, OH | $36,260 | $41,010 | 14,120 | 29.6% | +1.1% |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $36,250 | $41,310 | 4,050 | 59.0% | +1.1% |
| Baltimore, MD | $36,170 | $43,030 | 19,590 | 42.8% | +0.9% |
| Toledo, OH | $36,140 | $41,030 | 4,600 | 29.2% | +0.8% |
| Kansas City, MO | $36,080 | $40,660 | 16,540 | 39.4% | +0.6% |
| Lincoln, NE | $36,080 | $41,660 | 2,520 | 34.8% | +0.6% |
| Miami, FL | $36,070 | $41,120 | 57,830 | 55.1% | +0.6% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $35,850 | $42,640 | 85,210 | 62.9% | average |
| San Diego, CA | $35,850 | $47,700 | 24,050 | 74.4% | average |
| Long Beach, CA | $35,850 | $42,640 | 85,210 | 60.4% | average |
| Anaheim, CA | $35,850 | $42,640 | 85,210 | 69.7% | average |
| Chula Vista, CA | $35,850 | $47,700 | 24,050 | 71.0% | average |
| Boise City, ID | $35,830 | $37,480 | 4,890 | 45.5% | average |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $35,470 | $39,630 | 16,120 | 41.3% | -1.1% |
| Orlando, FL | $35,410 | $41,420 | 36,820 | 55.9% | -1.2% |
| Durham, NC | $35,230 | $38,040 | 3,560 | 48.1% | -1.7% |
| Sacramento, CA | $35,070 | $44,840 | 13,460 | 58.0% | -2.2% |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $34,910 | $37,250 | 5,020 | 37.8% | -2.6% |
| Modesto, CA | $34,910 | $41,200 | 2,140 | 55.3% | -2.6% |
| Raleigh, NC | $34,860 | $39,430 | 10,290 | 50.5% | -2.8% |
| Riverside, CA | $34,800 | $45,660 | 20,810 | 62.5% | -2.9% |
| San Bernardino, CA | $34,800 | $45,660 | 20,810 | 49.4% | -2.9% |
| Stockton, CA | $34,460 | $41,950 | 2,330 | 52.1% | -3.9% |
| Fresno, CA | $34,320 | $42,430 | 4,340 | 46.3% | -4.3% |
| Bakersfield, CA | $34,320 | $41,180 | 2,920 | 47.9% | -4.3% |
| Omaha, NE | $34,290 | $39,620 | 7,620 | 40.2% | -4.4% |
| Chicago, IL | $31,200 | $35,650 | 54,100 | 53.1% | -13.0% |
| St. Louis, MO | $31,200 | $39,070 | 20,170 | 37.6% | -13.0% |
| Madison, WI | $30,910 | $38,450 | 5,130 | 53.0% | -13.8% |
| Milwaukee, WI | $30,330 | $35,250 | 10,020 | 40.9% | -15.4% |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY | $30,180 | $36,360 | 10,220 | 42.5% | -15.8% |
| Greensboro, NC | $30,060 | $36,630 | 5,210 | 44.5% | -16.2% |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $29,550 | $34,790 | 3,940 | 41.9% | -17.6% |
| Fayetteville, NC | $29,520 | $34,750 | 1,980 | 47.9% | -17.7% |
| Nashville-Davidson, TN | $29,390 | $31,580 | 19,490 | 60.7% | -18.0% |
| Indianapolis, IN | $29,050 | $32,300 | 15,830 | 45.9% | -19.0% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $28,650 | $30,730 | 3,150 | 40.2% | -20.1% |
| San Antonio, TX | $28,110 | $31,400 | 20,320 | 53.7% | -21.6% |
| Huntsville, AL | $27,990 | $28,330 | 3,290 | 46.2% | -21.9% |
| Austin, TX | $27,260 | $32,970 | 19,170 | 72.9% | -24.0% |
| Las Vegas, NV | $27,110 | $38,200 | 36,160 | 64.4% | -24.4% |
| Henderson, NV | $27,110 | $38,200 | 36,160 | 77.5% | -24.4% |
| North Las Vegas, NV | $27,110 | $38,200 | 36,160 | 71.0% | -24.4% |
| Anchorage, AK | $26,080 | $35,410 | 2,340 | 66.9% | -27.3% |
| Minneapolis, MN | $25,920 | $31,300 | 25,620 | 61.5% | -27.7% |
| St. Paul, MN | $25,920 | $31,300 | 25,620 | 57.8% | -27.7% |
| Reno, NV | $25,700 | $29,760 | 4,220 | 67.8% | -28.3% |
| Memphis, TN | $24,550 | $28,120 | 8,060 | 54.9% | -31.5% |
| Dallas, TX | $24,160 | $30,530 | 53,460 | 69.7% | -32.6% |
| Fort Worth, TX | $24,160 | $30,530 | 53,460 | 70.1% | -32.6% |
| Arlington, TX | $24,160 | $30,530 | 53,460 | 69.0% | -32.6% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $22,820 | $28,720 | 3,390 | 64.7% | -36.3% |
| Lubbock, TX | $22,560 | $27,820 | 3,040 | 60.5% | -37.1% |
| Houston, TX | $22,080 | $29,180 | 51,330 | 71.4% | -38.4% |
| Laredo, TX | $22,020 | $27,540 | 1,500 | 54.6% | -38.6% |
| El Paso, TX | $21,870 | $26,570 | 5,810 | 57.1% | -39.0% |
| Columbus, GA | $20,800 | $25,590 | 2,080 | 61.8% | -42.0% |
| Des Moines, IA | $20,410 | $27,240 | 6,250 | 62.0% | -43.1% |
| Atlanta, GA | $18,460 | $26,870 | 45,880 | 105.1% | -48.5% |
| Tulsa, OK | $18,350 | $26,450 | 7,460 | 65.3% | -48.8% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $18,200 | $28,120 | 11,560 | 71.4% | -49.2% |
| New Orleans, LA | $16,640 | $24,030 | 10,050 | 87.3% | -53.6% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $15,080 | $21,080 | 6,650 | 83.1% | -57.9% |
Every row comes from the same survey, so the differences between cities are measured differences rather than estimates made here. "Rent share" compares each metro's median waiters and waitresses wage with the median gross rent of the city of the same name, which is not the same area. See the methodology before reading small gaps as real.
Definitions used on this page
- Median wage
- The wage that half the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than. It is less sensitive to a few very high earners than the mean.
- Mean wage
- The average of all reported wages in the occupation, for one year of work.
- Employment
- The estimated number of jobs in the occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.
- Metropolitan area
- Wages are published for metro areas, which usually take in the city and its suburbs. The city figures on the cost of living pages cover only the city limits.
Source
The survey covers jobs, not people: one worker holding two jobs is counted twice, and self-employed workers are not counted at all. Pay is reported for the year as a whole, so a single employer can sit well above or below the median.
See every occupation covered, or compare living costs in the state pages.