The median waiter in the U.S. earns $35,230 a year ($16.94 an hour). Half earn between $27,750 and $47,110. Among the 50 largest metro areas, pay is highest in Seattle, WA ($57,280) and lowest in Oklahoma City, OK ($18,200).
Median $35,230
10th: $18,10090th: $64,720
Percentiles. Dark: the middle half of earners. Red line: median.
Waiters and Waitresses, May 2025.
Annual pay
U.S.
10th percentile
$18,100
25th percentile
$27,750
Median
$35,230
75th percentile
$47,110
90th percentile
$64,720
Average
$40,060
Jobs
2,270,910
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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.