SOC Code: 35-3031
Category: Food Preparation and Serving Related
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $18,500 | $1,542 |
| 25th Percentile | $25,690 | $2,141 |
| Median | $33,760 | $2,813 |
| 75th Percentile | $45,350 | $3,779 |
| 90th Percentile | $62,510 | $5,209 |
| Mean (Average) | $38,360 | $3,197 |
What is the median annual salary for:
Natural Sciences Managers
See where your salary ranks among Waiters and Waitresses professionals
Your salary of $33,760 is in the 50th percentile for Waiters and Waitresses
Percentile estimated from BLS p10/p25/median/p75/p90 wage data. Actual distribution may vary by experience and location.
| Metro Area | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $48,760 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $46,820 |
| Rochester, NY | $45,310 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $45,010 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $40,620 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $38,440 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $37,650 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $37,360 |
| Columbus, OH | $37,230 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $37,040 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $36,590 |
| Richmond, VA | $36,510 |
| Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT | $36,430 |
| Cleveland-Elyria, OH | $36,290 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $36,120 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $36,060 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $35,900 |
| Tucson, AZ | $35,420 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $35,070 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $35,060 |
Did You Know?
The BLS tracks wage data for over 800 occupations across 400+ metro areas, making it the most comprehensive source for U.S. salary benchmarks.
Related: See how salary relates to cost of living and rent prices in your area.
Estimate your after-tax income. Compare your real purchasing power across different states and salary levels.
Annual Take-Home
$29,110
Monthly
$2,426
Bi-Weekly
$1,120
Effective Tax Rate
13.8%
* Estimate only. Does not include local taxes, deductions, or credits. Need help with your finances? Consider consulting a certified financial planner or exploring high-yield savings accounts to maximize your take-home pay.
Our labor economists analyze Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, cross-referenced with O*NET occupation data and professional salary surveys to deliver accurate, current wage data for 800+ occupations across 400+ US metro areas.
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The median annual salary for a Waiters and Waitresses in the US is $33,760 as of 2024 BLS data. The average (mean) salary is $38,360, which can be higher due to top earners pulling the average up.
The top-paying metro areas for Waiters and Waitressess are Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($48,760), Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY ($46,820), Rochester, NY ($45,310). These figures reflect 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for metro areas with reportable data.
Waiters and Waitresses salaries range from $18,500 at the 10th percentile to $62,510 at the 90th percentile. The middle 50% earn between $25,690 and $45,350, indicating a $19,660 interquartile spread.
There are approximately 2,302,690 Waiters and Waitressess employed across the United States according to 2024 BLS data. This occupation falls under the "Food Preparation and Serving Related" category (SOC 35-3031).
The Waiters and Waitresses median salary of $33,760 is 27% below the overall US median wage of $46,310 for all occupations. Cost of living and local demand significantly affect actual compensation.