Quick answer
The median annual wage for waiters and waitresses in the US was $35,230 in May 2025 (mean $40,060), with 2,270,910 people employed, per BLS. Among states, Hawaii paid the highest median ($62,390) and Louisiana the lowest ($15,080).
Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025
| State | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $62,390 | $68,260 | 14090 |
| Vermont | $59,140 | $58,850 | 4040 |
| Washington | $56,130 | $60,590 | 45400 |
| Oregon | $48,410 | $52,400 | 23040 |
| District of Columbia | $47,850 | $59,510 | 11530 |
| New York | $47,020 | $54,750 | 142940 |
| New Jersey | $44,960 | $50,260 | 55800 |
| Colorado | $44,860 | $51,240 | 40680 |
| Virginia | $44,760 | $46,680 | 59370 |
| Arizona | $43,950 | $51,170 | 55950 |
| Maine | $43,370 | $51,260 | 9090 |
| Massachusetts | $38,460 | $44,480 | 54670 |
| New Hampshire | $38,430 | $43,380 | 10030 |
| Connecticut | $37,770 | $46,220 | 22370 |
| Michigan | $37,760 | $44,910 | 65090 |
| New Mexico | $36,920 | $43,210 | 12740 |
| Delaware | $36,880 | $43,070 | 7580 |
| Maryland | $36,750 | $43,950 | 38120 |
| Ohio | $36,700 | $42,190 | 77250 |
| Virgin Islands | $36,340 | $44,640 | 690 |
| Florida | $36,150 | $41,840 | 207180 |
| Kansas | $36,120 | $39,170 | 19480 |
| California | $36,080 | $44,600 | 229970 |
| Rhode Island | $35,420 | $42,740 | 10160 |
| West Virginia | $35,380 | $38,350 | 8600 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,690 | $38,110 | 82300 |
| Nebraska | $33,770 | $39,590 | 13310 |
| North Carolina | $32,150 | $37,850 | 71940 |
| Illinois | $31,200 | $35,610 | 72900 |
| Utah | $31,150 | $37,360 | 17790 |
| North Dakota | $30,890 | $36,250 | 5250 |
| Idaho | $30,050 | $35,320 | 10950 |
| Wisconsin | $29,670 | $34,570 | 36220 |
| Kentucky | $29,660 | $35,410 | 27150 |
| Missouri | $29,400 | $38,620 | 41640 |
| South Dakota | $28,990 | $30,860 | 7350 |
| Indiana | $28,480 | $31,170 | 43620 |
| Tennessee | $27,760 | $29,070 | 52120 |
| Alabama | $26,840 | $27,200 | 28760 |
| Nevada | $26,410 | $36,870 | 42520 |
| Alaska | $26,310 | $33,640 | 3830 |
| Minnesota | $25,470 | $30,060 | 37630 |
| Arkansas | $24,680 | $29,050 | 17880 |
| Wyoming | $23,920 | $31,120 | 3620 |
| Montana | $23,370 | $29,180 | 7200 |
| Texas | $23,240 | $29,750 | 199610 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,790 | $29,690 | 12260 |
| Mississippi | $21,370 | $24,680 | 15190 |
| Iowa | $21,000 | $26,940 | 22410 |
| Guam | $20,320 | $21,250 | 1550 |
| Georgia | $18,700 | $26,610 | 76470 |
| South Carolina | $18,370 | $25,900 | 47200 |
| Oklahoma | $17,910 | $25,870 | 27000 |
| Louisiana | $15,080 | $22,350 | 33870 |
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Last updated 2026-10-16. Data only, not financial or tax advice.