As of January 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Waiter in the United States is $22,402. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $19,602 to $25,402, with most professionals earning between $17,053 and $28,133.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $25,402 | $2,117 | $489 | $12 |
| Average | $22,402 | $1,867 | $431 | $11 |
| 25th Percentile | $19,602 | $1,634 | $377 | $9 |
An entry-level Waiter with less than 1 year of experience earns about $21,718. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $22,202. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $23,187. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $23,321, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $23,545.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Waiter | $21,718 |
| Intermediate Level Waiter | $22,202 |
| Senior Level Waiter | $23,187 |
| Specialist Level Waiter | $23,321 |
| Expert Level Waiter | $23,545 |
| Entry Level | 3% |
| Mid Level | 1% |
| Senior Level | 4% |
| Top Level | 4% |
| Experienced | 5% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of January 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Waiter compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $30,803 in 2023 to approximately $30,654 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Waiter salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Waiter information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Waiter job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Waiter and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $22,402 | 59.2% | ||
| Bonus | $1,600 | 4.2% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $1,836 | 4.9% | ||
| 401K/403B | $1,176 | 3.1% | ||
| Disability | $384 | 1.0% | ||
| Healthcare | $6,371 | 16.8% | ||
| Pension | $1,008 | 2.7% | ||
| Time Off | $3,046 | 8.1% | ||
| Total Compensation | $37,824 | 100% | ||
The average annual salary of Waiter is $22,402. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Waiter is $11; the average weekly pay of Waiter is $431; the average monthly pay of Waiter is $1,867.
A Waiter's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Waiter earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Waiter is $28,102.
The highest pay for Waiter is $28,133.
The lowest pay for Waiter is $17,053.
The Waiter explains menu item and terms and provides suggestions to customers when asked. Serves food and beverages to the customers promptly and follows the standards set by the facility. Being a Waiter typically reports to a supervisor or manager. May require a high school diploma or its equivalent. Being a Waiter may require 0-1 year of general work experience. Possesses a moderate understanding of general aspects of the job. Works under the close direction of senior personnel in the functional area.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Customer Service: Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
Point of Sale: Accepting payments from customers for goods and services either in person or online.
Product Quality: Product quality refers to how well a product satisfies customer needs, serves its purpose and meets industry standards. When evaluating product quality, businesses consider several key factors, including whether a product solves a problem, works efficiently or suits customers' purposes.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
