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Waiters and Waitresses

Average base salary, Alaska
$35,000 / year
$2,900 per month · $16.83 per hour

BLS May 2025 state data for Alaska · median $27,000
25th percentile
$26,000
Average
$35,000
75th percentile
$30,500
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Waiters and Waitresses salary by state
Alabama$28,000
Alaska$35,000
Arizona$53,000
Arkansas$30,000
California$46,000
Colorado$53,000
Delaware$44,500
Florida$43,500
Georgia$27,500
Hawaii$70,500
Idaho$36,500
Illinois$37,000
Indiana$32,500
Iowa$28,000
Kansas$40,500
Kentucky$36,500
Louisiana$23,000
Maine$53,000
Maryland$45,500
Michigan$46,500
Minnesota$31,000
Missouri$40,000
Montana$30,000
Nebraska$41,000
Nevada$38,000
New Jersey$52,000
New Mexico$44,500
New York$56,500
Ohio$43,500
Oklahoma$27,000
Oregon$54,000
Tennessee$30,000
Texas$31,000
Utah$38,500
Vermont$61,000
Virginia$48,500
Washington$62,500
Wisconsin$36,000
Wyoming$32,000
About this role

Waiters and Waitresses is a professional role in the Food Preparation and Serving job family, focused on Waiters and Waitresses work. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.

What Waiters and Waitressess do

Typical education: High School Diploma

  • Collect payments from customers.
  • Check patrons' identification to ensure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages.
  • Write patrons' food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff.
  • Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals, and take action to correct any problems.
  • Take orders from patrons for food or beverages.

Top skills: Service Orientation Speaking Active Listening Social Perceptiveness Coordination Monitoring

Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Waiters and Waitresses salary by industry
Accommodation and Food Services

2,087,000 workers

$41,500

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation

97,670 workers

$40,500

Sectors 31, 32, and 33 – Manufacturing

17,890 workers

$43,000

Health Care and Social Assistance

16,450 workers

$34,500

Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services

16,130 workers

$42,500

Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)

13,950 workers

$42,000

Other Services (except Public Administration)

11,960 workers

$39,000

Sectors 44 and 45 – Retail Trade

6,810 workers

$35,000

National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares

Waiters and Waitresses pays 1% above the average across 17 roles in the Food Preparation and Serving job family (family average $41,000).

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Waiters and Waitresses make?

The average base salary for a Waiters and Waitresses in the United States is $41,500 per year, or about $19.95 per hour.

What is the typical salary range?

Pay typically falls between $29,000 and $48,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

How does this compare with other Food Preparation and Serving roles?

The Food Preparation and Serving job family averages $41,000 across 17 roles tracked by WePayFairly.

Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.

Explore Market DataOur Methodology

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