Waiters and Waitresses Salary by State (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed: 2026-05-19

Compare Waiters and Waitresses salaries across 51 states

$33,964

National Average (Median)

$62,390

Highest: Hawaii

$15,080

Lowest: Louisiana

Waiters and Waitresses Salary by State

Compare Waiters and Waitresses salaries across all 50 states. Click any state for the full breakdown.

$15,080

$62,390

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS 2025 Annual

AL $26,840 AK $26,310 AZ $43,950 AR $24,680 CA $36,080 CO $44,860 CT $37,770 DE $36,880 DC $47,850 FL $36,150 GA $18,700 HI $62,390 ID $30,050 IL $31,200 IN $28,480 IA $21,000 KS $36,120 KY $29,660 LA $15,080 ME $43,370 MD $36,750 MA $38,460 MI $37,760 MN $25,470 MS $21,370 MO $29,400 MT $23,370 NE $33,770 NV $26,410 NH $38,430 NJ $44,960 NM $36,920 NY $47,020 NC $32,150 ND $30,890 OH $36,700 OK $17,910 OR $48,410 PA $34,690 RI $35,420 SC $18,370 SD $28,990 TN $27,760 TX $23,240 UT $31,150 VT $59,140 VA $44,760 WA $56,130 WV $35,380 WI $29,670 WY $23,920

Top 5 Highest-Paying States

Hawaii

$62,390

Vermont

$59,140

Washington

$56,130

Oregon

$48,410

District of Columbia

$47,850

Waiters and Waitresses Salary in All 51 States

#	State	Median Salary	Mean Salary	Employment
1	Hawaii	$62,390	$68,260	14,090
2	Vermont	$59,140	$58,850	4,040
3	Washington	$56,130	$60,590	45,400
4	Oregon	$48,410	$52,400	23,040
5	District of Columbia	$47,850	$59,510	11,530
6	New York	$47,020	$54,750	142,940
7	New Jersey	$44,960	$50,260	55,800
8	Colorado	$44,860	$51,240	40,680
9	Virginia	$44,760	$46,680	59,370
10	Arizona	$43,950	$51,170	55,950
11	Maine	$43,370	$51,260	9,090
12	Massachusetts	$38,460	$44,480	54,670
13	New Hampshire	$38,430	$43,380	10,030
14	Connecticut	$37,770	$46,220	22,370
15	Michigan	$37,760	$44,910	65,090
16	New Mexico	$36,920	$43,210	12,740
17	Delaware	$36,880	$43,070	7,580
18	Maryland	$36,750	$43,950	38,120
19	Ohio	$36,700	$42,190	77,250
20	Florida	$36,150	$41,840	207,180
21	Kansas	$36,120	$39,170	19,480
22	California	$36,080	$44,600	229,970
23	Rhode Island	$35,420	$42,740	10,160
24	West Virginia	$35,380	$38,350	8,600
25	Pennsylvania	$34,690	$38,110	82,300
26	Nebraska	$33,770	$39,590	13,310
27	North Carolina	$32,150	$37,850	71,940
28	Illinois	$31,200	$35,610	72,900
29	Utah	$31,150	$37,360	17,790
30	North Dakota	$30,890	$36,250	5,250
31	Idaho	$30,050	$35,320	10,950
32	Wisconsin	$29,670	$34,570	36,220
33	Kentucky	$29,660	$35,410	27,150
34	Missouri	$29,400	$38,620	41,640
35	South Dakota	$28,990	$30,860	7,350
36	Indiana	$28,480	$31,170	43,620
37	Tennessee	$27,760	$29,070	52,120
38	Alabama	$26,840	$27,200	28,760
39	Nevada	$26,410	$36,870	42,520
40	Alaska	$26,310	$33,640	3,830
41	Minnesota	$25,470	$30,060	37,630
42	Arkansas	$24,680	$29,050	17,880
43	Wyoming	$23,920	$31,120	3,620
44	Montana	$23,370	$29,180	7,200
45	Texas	$23,240	$29,750	199,610
46	Mississippi	$21,370	$24,680	15,190
47	Iowa	$21,000	$26,940	22,410
48	Georgia	$18,700	$26,610	76,470
49	South Carolina	$18,370	$25,900	47,200
50	Oklahoma	$17,910	$25,870	27,000
51	Louisiana	$15,080	$22,350	33,870

Waiters and Waitresses Take-Home Pay After Taxes

Gross salary only tells half the story. State income taxes vary from 0% to 13.3%, dramatically affecting your take-home pay. See exactly what a Waiters and Waitresses keeps after federal, state, and FICA taxes.

Take-Home in Hawaii → Take-Home in Vermont → Take-Home in Washington →

Data Source & Methodology

Salary data is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, 2025 estimates. After-tax figures use IRS federal brackets and state income tax rates for all 50 states.

Our Methodology · Data Sources · Source: BLS OEWS