Waiters and Waitresses Employment & Job Outlook in New Jersey (2024)

New Jersey employs 58,310 Waiters and Waitresses professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • New Jersey employment outlook • Updated 2026-04-06

Total Employed
58,310
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
58.31
workers
Location Quotient
1.33
vs national avg
Average Salary
$46K
annual

High Demand in New Jersey

The location quotient (LQ) of 1.33 indicates that New Jersey has a higher-than-average concentration of Waiters and Waitresses professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

New Jersey vs National Average

Total Employed
58,310
National: 2,237,890
2.6% of national
Jobs per 1,000
58.31
National: 43.88
+32.9%
Average Salary
$46K
National: $35K
+29.7%

Top States by Waiters and Waitresses Employment

#1
225,040
225,040
employed
#2
202,590
202,590
employed
#3
198,440
198,440
employed
#4
130,190
130,190
employed
#5
86,200
86,200
employed
#6
81,500
81,500
employed
#7
76,110
76,110
employed
#8
71,840
71,840
employed
#9
70,420
70,420
employed
#10
67,010
67,010
employed

What Does a Waiters and Waitresses Earn in New Jersey?

The average annual salary for a Waiters and Waitresses in New Jersey is $46,590. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many Waiters and Waitresses jobs are there in New Jersey?

New Jersey employs approximately 58,310 Waiters and Waitresses professionals (2024 BLS data). This ranks New Jersey among the top states nationwide.

Is Waiters and Waitresses in demand in New Jersey?

Yes — New Jersey has above-average concentration of Waiters and Waitresses jobs (LQ: 1.33). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Waiters and Waitresses in New Jersey?

The average (mean) salary for Waiters and Waitresses in New Jersey is $46590/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Waiters and Waitresses professionals?

The top state for Waiters and Waitresses employment is California with 225,040 jobs.

Related Pages

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Waiters and Waitresses (SOC 353031) in New Jersey.

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