Waiters and Waitresses pay in the United States
Goes furthest in Vermont
·Food Preparation and Serving·2.3M jobs
Figures from US Bureau of Labor StatisticsOccupational Employment and Wage Statistics
$16.94/hr median
2,270,910 employed
+2% to 2035
44% AI exposure
No formal educational credential
54 states reported
and more...
What this work is
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
Where the money actually goes furthest
Hawaii pays the highest headline figure at $62,390. Adjusted for what things cost there it is worth $56,743 — less than Vermont, where $59,140 is worth $60,371.
Pay by state
54 states and territories publish a median for this occupation. Switch the ranking to see how much the order changes.
Adjusted for what things cost in that state.
| State | Hourly | Annual | Worth locally | After state tax | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | $28.43/hr | $59,140 | $60,371 | $57,174 | 4,040 |
| Hawaii | $29.99/hr | $62,390 | $56,743 | $59,091 | 14,090 |
| Washington | $26.98/hr | $56,130 | $52,453 | $56,130 | 45,400 |
| Oregon | $23.27/hr | $48,410 | $46,836 | $44,715 | 23,040 |
| Maine | $20.85/hr | $43,370 | $44,688 | $41,682 | 9,090 |
| Virginia | $21.52/hr | $44,760 | $44,273 | $42,932 | 59,370 |
| Arizona | $21.13/hr | $43,950 | $43,653 | $43,216 | 55,950 |
| New York | $22.61/hr | $47,020 | $43,569 | $45,038 | 142,940 |
| District of Columbia | $23.01/hr | $47,850 | $43,539 | $46,055 | 11,530 |
| Colorado | $21.57/hr | $44,860 | $43,532 | $43,573 | 40,680 |
| New Jersey | $21.62/hr | $44,960 | $41,319 | $43,968 | 55,800 |
| Kansas | $17.36/hr | $36,120 | $40,102 | $34,393 | 19,480 |
| New Mexico | $17.75/hr | $36,920 | $40,039 | $36,200 | 12,740 |
| Ohio | $17.65/hr | $36,700 | $39,560 | $36,407 | 77,250 |
| West Virginia | $17.01/hr | $35,380 | $39,530 | $34,368 | 8,600 |
| Michigan | $18.16/hr | $37,760 | $39,243 | $36,393 | 65,090 |
| Nebraska | $16.24/hr | $33,770 | $37,480 | $32,898 | 13,310 |
| Delaware | $17.73/hr | $36,880 | $36,950 | $35,400 | 7,580 |
| New Hampshire | $18.48/hr | $38,430 | $36,891 | $38,430 | 10,030 |
| Connecticut | $18.16/hr | $37,770 | $36,454 | $36,320 | 22,370 |
| Massachusetts | $18.49/hr | $38,460 | $36,365 | $36,537 | 54,670 |
| Pennsylvania | $16.68/hr | $34,690 | $35,553 | $33,625 | 82,300 |
| Maryland | $17.67/hr | $36,750 | $35,013 | $35,185 | 38,120 |
| Florida | $17.38/hr | $36,150 | $34,957 | $36,150 | 207,180 |
| North Dakota | $14.85/hr | $30,890 | $34,723 | $30,890 | 5,250 |
| Rhode Island | $17.03/hr | $35,420 | $34,630 | $34,487 | 10,160 |
| North Carolina | $15.46/hr | $32,150 | $34,082 | $31,325 | 71,940 |
| Kentucky | $14.26/hr | $29,660 | $32,897 | $28,600 | 27,150 |
| South Dakota | $13.94/hr | $28,990 | $32,723 | $28,990 | 7,350 |
| California | $17.35/hr | $36,080 | $32,586 | $35,475 | 229,970 |
| Missouri | $14.13/hr | $29,400 | $32,371 | $28,874 | 41,640 |
| Wisconsin | $14.26/hr | $29,670 | $31,530 | $29,078 | 36,220 |
| Utah | $14.98/hr | $31,150 | $31,509 | $29,732 | 17,790 |
| Idaho | $14.45/hr | $30,050 | $31,469 | $29,231 | 10,950 |
| Illinois | $15.00/hr | $31,200 | $31,212 | $29,792 | 72,900 |
| Indiana | $13.69/hr | $28,480 | $30,515 | $27,655 | 43,620 |
| Alabama | $12.91/hr | $26,840 | $30,218 | $25,688 | 28,760 |
| Tennessee | $13.35/hr | $27,760 | $30,216 | $27,760 | 52,120 |
| Arkansas | $11.86/hr | $24,680 | $28,387 | $23,894 | 17,880 |
| Nevada | $12.70/hr | $26,410 | $26,415 | $26,410 | 42,520 |
| Minnesota | $12.25/hr | $25,470 | $25,826 | $24,887 | 37,630 |
| Wyoming | $11.50/hr | $23,920 | $25,806 | $23,920 | 3,620 |
| Alaska | $12.65/hr | $26,310 | $25,703 | $26,310 | 3,830 |
| Montana | $11.23/hr | $23,370 | $24,690 | $22,957 | 7,200 |
| Mississippi | $10.27/hr | $21,370 | $24,577 | $20,530 | 15,190 |
| Texas | $11.18/hr | $23,240 | $23,943 | $23,240 | 199,610 |
| Iowa | $10.10/hr | $21,000 | $23,928 | $20,756 | 22,410 |
| Oklahoma | $8.61/hr | $17,910 | $20,389 | $17,549 | 27,000 |
| South Carolina | $8.83/hr | $18,370 | $19,594 | $18,363 | 47,200 |
| Georgia | $8.99/hr | $18,700 | $19,420 | $18,352 | 76,470 |
| Louisiana | $7.25/hr | $15,080 | $17,095 | $15,002 | 33,870 |
| Virgin Islands | $17.47/hr | $36,340 | Not published | Not published | 690 |
| Puerto Rico | $10.96/hr | $22,790 | Not published | Not published | 12,260 |
| Guam | $9.77/hr | $20,320 | Not published | Not published | 1,550 |
National median for comparison: $35,230. “Worth locally” divides pay by the area’s price level, so a figure above the headline means money goes further there than the US average.
$35,230/year
$16.94/hr an hour, national median
Across the states
$15,080$96,010
25th to 75th percentile, lowest and highest state
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