How much does a waiter or waitress make?
Typical yearly pay for waiters and waitresses in the United States.
median pay per year, about $2,936 a month or $16.94 an hour.
That's more than 4% of the 100 jobs in our salary guide, ranking #96 of 100.
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| Janitor | $36,840 |
| Hairstylist | $35,790 |
| Retail salesperson | $35,410 |
| Waiter or waitress | $35,230 |
| Childcare worker | $34,980 |
| Bartender | $34,340 |
| Cashier | $32,880 |
Similar jobs
- Bartender$34,340
- Baker$37,160
- Restaurant cook$37,390
- Fast food worker$31,200
- Butcher$40,140
- Head chef$62,470
How much does a waiter or waitress make per hour?
About $16.94 an hour, if you spread the median yearly pay over a standard 40-hour week, 52 weeks a year. Actual hourly pay varies with overtime, shift work and location.
Becoming a waiter or waitress
The U.S. Department of Labor's career profile covers the training, licenses and day-to-day tasks for this job.
How to become a waiter or waitress
About this number
This is the national median wage for the occupation “Waiters and Waitresses” (code 35-3031.00) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 release, as published on O*NET OnLine. The median is the middle value: half of workers earn more, half earn less.