Do waiters make a lot of money? What is the average pay for waiters?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, waiters in the United States earn an average of $26,800 a year, equivalent to $12.88 an hour. Waiters make 50% less than the average American worker.
Waiters in Hawaii are the best paid, making $55,200 a year, while waiters in Louisiana make the least at $19,280.
| Percentile | Hourly | Annually |
|---|---|---|
| 90th | $20.65 | $42,950 |
| 75th | $14.24 | $29,620 |
| 50th | $11.00 | $22,890 |
| 25th | $9.11 | $18,950 |
| 10th | $8.37 | $17,420 |
In what states do waiters make the most? In what states do waiters make the least?
In the map below, green represents higher pay and red represents lower pay. Keep scrolling down to see a table with the average wages in each state.
| State | Hourly | Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $9.41 | $19,560 |
| Alaska | $12.97 | $26,970 |
| Arizona | $17.57 | $36,550 |
| Arkansas | $10.08 | $20,960 |
| California | $15.55 | $32,350 |
| Colorado | $12.81 | $26,640 |
| Connecticut | $13.74 | $28,590 |
| Delaware | $12.09 | $25,160 |
| Florida | $12.66 | $26,340 |
| Georgia | $10.37 | $21,570 |
| Hawaii | $26.54 | $55,200 |
| Idaho | $10.84 | $22,550 |
| Illinois | $11.22 | $23,340 |
| Indiana | $11.32 | $23,540 |
| Iowa | $10.61 | $22,070 |
| Kansas | $10.06 | $20,920 |
| Kentucky | $9.83 | $20,440 |
| Louisiana | $9.27 | $19,280 |
| Maine | $14.02 | $29,170 |
| Maryland | $12.46 | $25,910 |
| Massachusetts | $15.85 | $32,970 |
| Michigan | $12.26 | $25,500 |
| Minnesota | $13.97 | $29,060 |
| Mississippi | $10.23 | $21,280 |
| Missouri | $10.75 | $22,370 |
| Montana | $10.53 | $21,900 |
| Nebraska | $12.34 | $25,670 |
| Nevada | $11.43 | $23,770 |
| New Hampshire | $12.82 | $26,660 |
| New Jersey | $13.16 | $27,380 |
| New Mexico | $9.59 | $19,940 |
| New York | $17.86 | $37,150 |
| North Carolina | $10.93 | $22,740 |
| North Dakota | $11.53 | $23,990 |
| Ohio | $11.28 | $23,460 |
| Oklahoma | $9.82 | $20,430 |
| Oregon | $14.20 | $29,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $12.20 | $25,380 |
| Rhode Island | $13.81 | $28,730 |
| South Carolina | $9.71 | $20,200 |
| South Dakota | $10.75 | $22,370 |
| Tennessee | $9.62 | $20,020 |
| Texas | $10.61 | $22,070 |
| Utah | $11.78 | $24,500 |
| Vermont | $16.76 | $34,850 |
| Virginia | $11.65 | $24,220 |
| Washington | $18.63 | $38,750 |
| West Virginia | $11.87 | $24,700 |
| Wisconsin | $10.93 | $22,740 |
| Wyoming | $11.07 | $23,030 |
| Metro Area | Hourly | Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Kahului, HI | $27.19 | $56,560 |
| Honolulu, HI | $26.65 | $55,430 |
| Kingston, NY | $20.67 | $42,990 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | $20.21 | $42,040 |
| Seattle, WA | $19.96 | $41,520 |
| Bellingham, WA | $19.65 | $40,870 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $18.29 | $38,040 |
| San Francisco, CA | $18.18 | $37,810 |
| Utica, NY | $17.93 | $37,300 |
| Napa, CA | $17.74 | $36,900 |
| Year | Hourly | Annually |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $12.88 | $26,800 |
| 2018 | $12.42 | $25,830 |
| 2017 | $12.15 | $25,280 |
| 2016 | $11.73 | $24,410 |
| 2015 | $11.07 | $23,020 |
| 2014 | $10.40 | $21,640 |
| 2013 | $10.04 | $20,880 |
| 2012 | $9.95 | $20,710 |
| 2011 | $10.05 | $20,890 |