Waiter Salary in Chicago, IL
Updated
The median waiter in the Chicago area earns $31,200 a year ($15.00 an hour), 11% below the U.S. median ($35,230) and about the same as the Illinois median ($31,200). Half of the 54,100 waiters there earn between $31,200 and $35,800.
Median $31,200
10th: $31,20090th: $50,410
| Annual pay | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31,200 | $31,200 | $18,100 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $31,200 | $27,750 |
| Median | $31,200 | $31,200 | $35,230 |
| 75th percentile | $35,800 | $32,720 | $47,110 |
| 90th percentile | $50,410 | $49,470 | $64,720 |
| Average | $35,650 | $35,610 | $40,060 |
| Jobs | 54,100 | 72,900 | 2,270,910 |
Chicago, IL ranks 35th of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas for waiter pay. Highest: Seattle, WA ($57,280).
Paid less than $31,200? That gap, with its source, is the strongest line in a raise request. Check your pay for your level in 30 seconds. Free, no sign-up.
Check my payWaiter pay in other cities
- Seattle, WA: $57,280
- Portland, OR: $54,780
- New York, NY: $47,610
- Phoenix, AZ: $47,530
- Buffalo, NY: $46,580
- Washington, DC: $46,040
- Grand Rapids, MI: $42,930
- San Jose, CA: $41,920
- All cities
Similar jobs in Chicago, IL
- Fast Food Worker: $34,630
- Bartender: $31,200
- Restaurant Cook: $38,930
- Food Service Supervisor: $42,650
- Food Preparation Worker: $35,410
- All jobs in Chicago, IL
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, published May 15, 2026
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.