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Waiter: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$35,230median pay per year, or $16.94 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $18,100lowest 10% earn less
  2. $27,75025th percentile
  3. $35,230median
  4. $47,11075th percentile
  5. $64,720top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

The median pay for waiters and waitresses was $35,230 a year[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+2%[2]
Openings per year
423,100[5]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[6]

How much do waiters make?

The median wage for waiters and waitresses was $35,230 a year, or $16.94 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean wage was $40,060 a year, or $19.26 an hour[7]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[4].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $18,100 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $64,720[3]. The middle 50% fell between $27,750 and $47,110[3]. By the hour, those marks were $8.70, $13.34, $22.65 and $31.12 for the 10th, 25th, 75th and 90th percentiles[8]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[9].

These figures cover part-time and full-time wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10]. About 2,270,910 people held these jobs in May 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

Hawaii had the highest median annual wage at $62,390, followed by Vermont at $59,140 and Washington at $56,130[12]. Louisiana was last in the list at $15,080[12].

Among metro areas, Kahului-Wailuku, HI led at $82,550, ahead of Burlington-South Burlington, VT at $61,620 and Urban Honolulu, HI at $60,250[13].

The most jobs were in California (229,970), Florida (207,180) and Texas (199,610)[14]. New York had 142,940 and Pennsylvania 82,300[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area had the most jobs, 138,720, with a median of $47,610[15].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Hawaii[12]$62,39014,090
Vermont$59,1404,040
Washington$56,13045,400
Oregon$48,41023,040
District of Columbia$47,85011,530
New York$47,020142,940
New Jersey$44,96055,800
Colorado$44,86040,680
Virginia$44,76059,370
Arizona$43,95055,950
Maine$43,3709,090
Massachusetts$38,46054,670
New Hampshire$38,43010,030
Connecticut$37,77022,370
Michigan$37,76065,090
New Mexico$36,92012,740
Delaware$36,8807,580
Maryland$36,75038,120
Ohio$36,70077,250
Florida$36,150207,180
Kansas$36,12019,480
California$36,080229,970
Rhode Island$35,42010,160
West Virginia$35,3808,600
Pennsylvania$34,69082,300
Nebraska$33,77013,310
North Carolina$32,15071,940
Illinois$31,20072,900
Utah$31,15017,790
North Dakota$30,8905,250
Idaho$30,05010,950
Wisconsin$29,67036,220
Kentucky$29,66027,150
Missouri$29,40041,640
South Dakota$28,9907,350
Indiana$28,48043,620
Tennessee$27,76052,120
Alabama$26,84028,760
Nevada$26,41042,520
Alaska$26,3103,830
Minnesota$25,47037,630
Arkansas$24,68017,880
Wyoming$23,9203,620
Montana$23,3707,200
Texas$23,240199,610
Mississippi$21,37015,190
Iowa$21,00022,410
Georgia$18,70076,470
South Carolina$18,37047,200
Oklahoma$17,91027,000
Louisiana$15,08033,870

How to become a waiter

In an O*NET survey of 35 workers, 58% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, 32% said less than a high school diploma, and 8% said a post-secondary certificate[20].

If you serve alcohol, most states require you to be at least 18, and some set a higher age[21]. You also need to know state and local alcohol sales laws[21]. Some states, counties and cities require alcohol training that takes a few hours and may be online or in-house[22]. Some states require training in safe food handling[23].

With experience, servers may move to fine-dining restaurants, where schedules or tips may be better[24].

What waiters do

Waiters take orders and serve food and drinks to guests at tables[25]. Common tasks include:

Job titles in this field include server, food runner and banquet server[27]. Useful skills include clear communication, friendliness, attention to detail and physical stamina[28][29][30][31].

Where they work

About 85% of waiters and waitresses worked in food services and drinking places in 2025[32]. The work can be hectic and fast-paced, and servers stand for most of a shift and carry heavy trays[33]. They work closely with kitchen staff[33]. Some employers require a uniform or dress code[34].

Part-time work is common. Schedules can include early mornings, late evenings, weekends and holidays[35]. Where work is seasonal, servers may be employed for only a few months a year[36].

Job outlook

Employment is projected to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 2,284,400 to 2,330,900 jobs[2]. For all occupations, projected growth is 3.5%[37]. So this job is expected to grow more slowly than average.

BLS projects about 423,100 openings a year[5]. Openings include jobs left by people who change occupations or leave work, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 7.3% of workers leave the labor force and 10.8% move to a different occupation[38].

Is it a good fit?

The facts suggest this job suits people who want a quick start, since no formal education is typically needed and training is short[6][18]. Pay is below the median for all occupations, and it varies a lot by state[1][4][12]. Growth is slower than average, and about 423,100 openings a year are projected, which include jobs left by people who change occupations or leave work[2][37][5]. The work is physical and fast-paced, with hours that may vary[33][35].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[39].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a waiter make an hour?
The median wage was $16.94 an hour in May 2025[1]. The mean was $19.26 an hour[7].
What education do you need to be a waiter?
No formal education is typically needed, though some employers prefer a high school diploma[16][17].
How long does it take to learn to be a waiter?
Training is short-term on-the-job, usually lasting from several days to a few weeks[18].
Is waiting tables in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[2][37]. About 423,100 openings a year are projected[5].
What is the highest paying state for waiters?
Hawaii had the highest median annual wage at $62,390[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in the US was $35,230 per year and $16.94 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Waiters and Waitresses is projected to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 2,284,400 to 2,330,900 jobs (a change of +46,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Waiters and Waitresses: 10th percentile $18,100, 25th percentile $27,750, 75th percentile $47,110, 90th percentile $64,720. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 423,100 openings for Waiters and Waitresses are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Waiters and Waitresses: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Waiters and Waitresses was $40,060 per year and $19.26 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Waiters and Waitresses: 10th percentile $8.70, 25th percentile $13.34, 75th percentile $22.65, 90th percentile $31.12. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 2,270,910 people were employed as Waiters and Waitresses in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Waiters and Waitresses in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Waiters and Waitresses (areas with at least 100 jobs): Kahului-Wailuku, HI $82,550; Burlington-South Burlington, VT $61,620; Urban Honolulu, HI $60,250; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $57,280; Walla Walla, WA $56,730; Bellingham, WA $56,700; Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $55,270; Longview-Kelso, WA $54,870. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Waiters and Waitresses jobs: California 229,970; Florida 207,180; Texas 199,610; New York 142,940; Pennsylvania 82,300. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Waiters and Waitresses jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 138,720 (median $47,610); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 85,210 (median $35,850); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 57,830 (median $36,070); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 54,100 (median $31,200); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 53,460 (median $24,160); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 51,330 (median $22,080). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. O*NET 35-3031.00 survey of workers (35 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 58%, Less than a High School Diploma 32%, Post-Secondary Certificate 8% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET description of Waiters and Waitresses. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET task list for Waiters and Waitresses. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET 35-3031.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Banquet Server, Busser, Cocktail Server, Food Runner, Food Server, Restaurant Server, Room Service Server, Server. O*NET OnLine
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of waiters and waitresses in 2025: Food services and drinking places 85%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  37. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  38. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Waiters and Waitresses: 7.3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 10.8% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  39. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.