Dining Room Server / Wait staff Salary in the United States
How much does a Dining Room Server / Wait staff make in the United States?
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Dining Room Server / Wait staff in the United States is $24,699 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $12.
However, a Dining Room Server / Wait staff's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $28,080
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $22,751 to $26,469
Key Factors That Influence Dining Room Server / Wait staff Salaries
A Dining Room Server / Wait staff's salary isn't a fixed number.
It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Dining Room Server / Wait staff Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Dining Room Server / Wait staff's salary.
As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases.
Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:
Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $24,568
Early Career (1-2 years): $42,702
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $57,632
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $86,832
Expert (over 8 years): $120,930
Levels
Salary
Dining Ro... Level Dining Room Server / Wait staff
$24,568
Assistant... Level Dining Room Server / Wait staff
$42,702
Restauran... Level Dining Room Server / Wait staff
$57,632
Regional ... Level Dining Room Server / Wait staff
$86,832
Restauran... Level Dining Room Server / Wait staff
$120,930
$24,5680 yr
$42,702< 2 yrs
$57,6322-4 yrs
$86,8325-8 yrs
$120,930> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Dining Room Server / Wait staff Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work.
States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors
often pay more to attract Dining Room Server / Wait stafves.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $27,346.
California: $27,242.
Massachusetts: $26,879.
District of Columbia$27,346
California$27,242
Massachusetts$26,879
Washington$26,781
New Jersey$26,771
Alaska$26,736
Connecticut$26,395
New York$26,257
Hawaii$25,815
Rhode Island$25,607
Maryland$25,467
Minnesota$25,274
Colorado$25,200
Illinois$25,175
Oregon$25,081
Delaware$25,012
New Hampshire$24,969
Virginia$24,871
Pennsylvania$24,587
Nevada$24,444
North Dakota$24,397
Michigan$24,323
Wisconsin$24,296
Vermont$24,242
Texas$24,091
Maine$24,081
Arizona$24,066
Ohio$24,049
Georgia$23,822
Indiana$23,708
Wyoming$23,686
Utah$23,651
Iowa$23,636
Kansas$23,518
Louisiana$23,483
North Carolina$23,471
Missouri$23,466
Florida$23,370
Montana$23,318
Nebraska$23,268
Kentucky$23,241
South Carolina$23,142
Tennessee$23,081
Idaho$23,056
New Mexico$22,876
Oklahoma$22,836
Alabama$22,691
South Dakota$22,446
Arkansas$22,313
West Virginia$22,241
Mississippi$22,026
Top Paying Cities for Dining Room Server / Wait stafves
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $31,152
San Francisco: $30,811
Oakland: $30,162
San Jose, CA$31,152
San Francisco, CA$30,811
Oakland, CA$30,162
New York, NY$28,438
Paramus, NJ$28,092
Queens Village, NY$28,091
Passaic, NJ$28,067
Bergenfield, NJ$28,065
Stamford, CT$28,011
Huntington, NY$28,000
Newark, NJ$27,818
Bridgeport, CT$27,766
Vallejo, CA$27,717
New Brunswick, NJ$27,707
Petaluma, CA$27,692
Middlesex, NJ$27,645
Somerset, NJ$27,628
Santa Cruz, CA$27,596
Boston, MA$27,445
Monterey, CA$27,358
Seattle, WA$27,302
Santa Rosa, CA$27,297
Los Angeles, CA$27,289
Juneau, AK$27,225
Washington, DC$27,198
Orange, CA$27,110
Santa Ana, CA$27,045
Long Beach, CA$27,020
Anaheim, CA$27,015
Anchorage, AK$27,003
Santa Maria, CA$26,929
Everett, WA$26,924
Danbury, CT$26,837
Bremerton, WA$26,803
Tacoma, WA$26,714
New Suffolk, NY$26,713
Sacramento, CA$26,706
Santa Barbara, CA$26,679
Trenton, NJ$26,652
San Diego, CA$26,652
Brockton, MA$26,625
Fairbanks, AK$26,564
Lompoc, CA$26,501
Lowell, MA$26,481
Ventura, CA$26,477
Nashua, NH$26,472
Stockton, CA$26,469
Modesto, CA$26,289
Poughkeepsie, NY$26,235
Olympia, WA$26,188
Kennewick, WA$26,188
New Haven, CT$26,178
Lawrence, MA$26,089
Hartford, CT$26,064
Riverside, CA$26,059
New Bedford, MA$26,035
Richland, WA$26,035
Bakersfield, CA$26,000
San Bernardino, CA$25,990
New Britain, CT$25,988
Atlantic City, NJ$25,988
New London, CT$25,978
Norwich, CT$25,970
Portsmouth, NH$25,966
Boulder, CO$25,913
Portland, OR$25,879
Worcester, MA$25,877
Minneapolis, MN$25,800
Philadelphia, PA$25,765
Honolulu, HI$25,684
Saint Paul, MN$25,672
Vineland, NJ$25,667
Providence, RI$25,595
Chicago, IL$25,523
Bellingham, WA$25,494
Springfield, MA$25,474
Baltimore, MD$25,467
Chico, CA$25,405
Pittsfield, MA$25,338
Manchester, NH$25,291
Spokane, WA$25,183
Denver, CO$25,180
Albany, NY$25,064
Troy, NY$25,054
Nassau, NY$25,028
Schenectady, NY$25,002
Wilmington, DE$24,983
Burlington, VT$24,948
Salem, OR$24,938
Portland, ME$24,862
Yakima, WA$24,837
Rochester, MN$24,760
Reno, NV$24,748
Fresno, CA$24,748
Milwaukee, WI$24,726
Detroit, MI$24,701
Ann Arbor, MI$24,697
Allentown, PA$24,694
Colorado Springs, CO$24,652
Syracuse, NY$24,639
Carson City, NV$24,639
Houston, TX$24,605
Eugene, OR$24,592
Gary, IN$24,563
Springfield, OR$24,543
Bismarck, ND$24,538
Galveston, TX$24,521
Medford, OR$24,484
Fort Collins, CO$24,474
Concord, NH$24,461
Austin, TX$24,454
Mesa, AZ$24,402
Reading, PA$24,400
Phoenix, AZ$24,397
Dallas, TX$24,390
Saint Cloud, MN$24,366
Madison, WI$24,333
Utica, NY$24,266
Rochester, NY$24,227
Des Moines, IA$24,224
Raleigh, NC$24,222
Atlanta, GA$24,185
Battle Creek, MI$24,177
Salt Lake City, UT$24,170
Lancaster, PA$24,133
Harrisburg, PA$24,098
Kansas City, MO$24,074
Champaign, IL$24,069
Kansas City, KS$24,069
Fort Worth, TX$24,066
Columbus, OH$24,062
Boca Raton, FL$24,056
Pittsburgh, PA$24,046
Richmond, VA$24,037
Indianapolis, IN$24,032
Cleveland, OH$24,029
Las Vegas, NV$24,000
Cincinnati, OH$24,000
Petersburg, VA$23,962
Huntsville, AL$23,925
Lansing, MI$23,909
Lebanon, PA$23,906
Pueblo, CO$23,903
Appleton, WI$23,896
Buffalo, NY$23,886
Dayton, OH$23,879
Racine, WI$23,874
Charlotte, NC$23,871
Saint Louis, MO$23,864
York, PA$23,849
Elkhart, IN$23,849
Gastonia, NC$23,844
Billings, MT$23,838
Beaumont, TX$23,832
Lorain, OH$23,827
Benton Harbor, MI$23,822
Toledo, OH$23,817
Binghamton, NY$23,804
Rock Hill, SC$23,802
Rockford, IL$23,790
Springfield, IL$23,780
Elyria, OH$23,777
Fargo, ND$23,777
Flagstaff, AZ$23,760
Fort Lauderdale, FL$23,745
Duluth, MN$23,730
Miami, FL$23,730
Cheyenne, WY$23,713
Grand Forks, ND$23,713
Bangor, ME$23,659
Cedar Rapids, IA$23,632
Durham, NC$23,621
Louisville, KY$23,619
Grand Rapids, MI$23,614
Hialeah, FL$23,612
Casper, WY$23,577
Scranton, PA$23,548
New Orleans, LA$23,540
Virginia Beach, VA$23,538
Akron, OH$23,525
Peoria, IL$23,493
Sarasota, FL$23,488
Nashville, TN$23,471
Omaha, NE$23,471
Green Bay, WI$23,471
Baton Rouge, LA$23,459
Charleston, SC$23,454
Jamestown, NY$23,441
Davenport, IA$23,441
Tucson, AZ$23,429
Saint Petersburg, FL$23,414
Tampa, FL$23,409
Evansville, IN$23,394
Port Arthur, TX$23,394
Bradenton, FL$23,385
Santa Fe, NM$23,340
Orlando, FL$23,296
Clearwater, FL$23,288
Canton, OH$23,236
La Crosse, WI$23,236
Albuquerque, NM$23,222
Newport News, VA$23,219
High Point, NC$23,212
Ogden, UT$23,202
Corpus Christi, TX$23,182
Norfolk, VA$23,167
Laramie, WY$23,167
Rock Island, IL$23,152
Saginaw, MI$23,147
Jacksonville, FL$23,145
Salisbury, NC$23,140
Boise, ID$23,135
Moline, IL$23,123
Fort Myers, FL$23,115
Memphis, TN$23,110
Tulsa, OK$23,098
Waterloo, IA$23,083
Spartanburg, SC$23,059
Lincoln, NE$23,046
Fort Wayne, IN$23,041
Provo, UT$23,039
Cedar Falls, IA$23,009
San Antonio, TX$22,999
Greensboro, NC$22,989
South Bend, IN$22,987
Savannah, GA$22,960
Muskegon, MI$22,950
Birmingham, AL$22,947
Winston Salem, NC$22,935
Lake Charles, LA$22,876
Anderson, IN$22,871
Lexington, KY$22,863
Augusta, GA$22,856
Greenville, SC$22,856
Lima, OH$22,836
Wichita, KS$22,834
Tuscaloosa, AL$22,834
Columbia, SC$22,812
Springfield, OH$22,807
Asheville, NC$22,767
Bloomington, IN$22,750
Knoxville, TN$22,661
Shreveport, LA$22,658
Wilmington, NC$22,626
Roanoke, VA$22,626
Topeka, KS$22,582
Frankfort, KY$22,579
Oklahoma City, OK$22,562
Chillicothe, OH$22,552
Longview, TX$22,550
Melbourne, FL$22,547
Sioux Falls, SD$22,508
Mobile, AL$22,505
Terre Haute, IN$22,495
Altoona, PA$22,481
Amarillo, TX$22,463
Killeen, TX$22,456
Fayetteville, AR$22,436
Chattanooga, TN$22,429
Sioux City, IA$22,406
Idaho Falls, ID$22,402
Lynchburg, VA$22,382
Gainesville, FL$22,350
Portsmouth, OH$22,337
Little Rock, AR$22,332
Lafayette, LA$22,323
Youngstown, OH$22,323
Daytona Beach, FL$22,308
Clarksville, TN$22,305
Pensacola, FL$22,303
Temple, TX$22,301
Hopkinsville, KY$22,229
Erie, PA$22,224
Florence, SC$22,214
Charleston, WV$22,174
Great Falls, MT$22,162
Macon, GA$22,127
Tallahassee, FL$22,125
Fayetteville, NC$22,120
Waco, TX$22,115
Helena, MT$22,098
Pine Bluff, AR$22,088
Vincennes, IN$22,058
Lubbock, TX$22,048
Alamogordo, NM$22,034
Twin Falls, ID$22,011
Rapid City, SD$22,004
Jackson, MS$21,959
Huntington, WV$21,958
Greenville, MS$21,957
Parkersburg, WV$21,932
Montgomery, AL$21,927
Wichita Falls, TX$21,903
Springfield, MO$21,903
Biloxi, MS$21,890
Monroe, LA$21,866
Johnstown, PA$21,848
Sumter, SC$21,838
Columbus, GA$21,836
Pascagoula, MS$21,789
Abilene, TX$21,789
Kingsport, TN$21,725
Albany, GA$21,725
Gulfport, MS$21,717
Alexandria, LA$21,636
Fort Smith, AR$21,574
El Paso, TX$21,507
Las Cruces, NM$21,396
Harlingen, TX$21,334
Pocatello, ID$21,330
Florence, AL$21,298
Brownsville, TX$21,293
Mcallen, TX$21,241
Dothan, AL$21,206
Columbus, MS$21,059
Altus, OK$20,944
Lawton, OK$20,897
Pierre, SD$20,808
What Skills Can Increase a Dining Room Server / Wait staff's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Customer Service (Mentioned in 11.92% Job Postings): 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 (Mentioned in 2.74% Job Postings): Accepting payments from customers for goods and services either in person or online.
Product Quality (Mentioned in 1.88% Job Postings): 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.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Customer Service
11.92%
Point of Sale
2.74%
Product Quality
1.88%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Dining Room Server / Wait staff's salary.
Products and Services: Can increase your salary by up to 26%.
Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Products and Services
$31,120
26%
Problem Solving
$25,439
3%
Collaboration
$25,439
3%
Team Management
$25,439
3%
Food Safety
$24,945
1%
Leadership
$24,945
1%
Get Latest Data
Dining Room Server / Wait staff Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Dining Room Server / Wait staff roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential
by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit,
offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely,
Dining Room Server / Wait staff positions in Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Dining Room Server / Wait staff as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Dining Room Server / Wait staff
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
$29,638
$14.0
20%
Dining Room Server / Wait staff Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Dining Room Server / Wait staff's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$22,751
Average$24,699/year
$26,469
$1,896
Average$2,058/month
$2,206
$438
Average$475/week
$509
$11
Average$12/hour
$13
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$26,469
$2,206
$509
$13
Average
$24,699
$2,058
$475
$12
25th Percentile
$22,751
$1,896
$438
$11
Salaries of jobs related to Dining Room Server / Wait staff
Salaries for a Dining Room Server / Wait staff can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $31,016 in 2023
to around $30,508 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Dining Room Server / Wait staff salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Dining Room Server / Wait staff Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$31,016
2024
$30,866
2025
$30,508
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$31,016
2024
$30,866
2025
$30,508
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Dining Room Server / Wait staff
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.
Compensation Planning
Common company salaries for Dining Room Server / Wait staff
Here are companies hiring for Dining Room Server / Wait staff and their salaries, click below for more details.
N
$97,099/per year
New York Police Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$95,962/per year
State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$94,615/per year
US Department of Transportation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$93,141/per year
US General Services Administration
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$92,342/per year
Los Angeles County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
D
$92,011/per year
Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,967/per year
US Department of Commerce
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,755/per year
US Department of Energy
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
F
$91,673/per year
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$90,276/per year
Naval Sea Systems Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,975/per year
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$88,721/per year
San Diego County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,664/per year
The TTB
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$87,569/per year
Lutheran Services
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
M
$85,066/per year
Maryland Inc
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$83,780/per year
State University of New York
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$82,969/per year
New York State
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
P
$82,703/per year
Puerto Rico Department of Education
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$80,526/per year
US Central Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
H
$80,286/per year
Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$79,270/per year
Air Force Reserve
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$78,505/per year
American Automobile Association (AAA)
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$76,678/per year
State of Florida - Department of Health
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$75,183/per year
New York State Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$75,106/per year
State University System of Florida
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
Find Your Next Dining Room Server / Wait staff Job
Ready to take the next step in your career?
Browse thousands of current Dining Room Server / Wait staff job openings on our job board.
Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Provides timely expert medical review for requests to evaluate the medical necessity of services that do not meet utilization review criteria while located...
more
Neurologist Locum Tenens Opportunity Near Columbus, OH. We are excited to offer a rewarding locum tenens opportunity for a Board Certified or Board Eligibl...
more
Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full Bene...
more
Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ...
more
Customer Service Associate. We're seeking a Customer Service Associate to join our team and deliver a great shopping experience for every customer. Duties ...
more
16 Days Ago
For Employees
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
For Employers
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
FAQ about Dining Room Server / Wait staff
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Dining Room Server / Wait staff?
The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for Dining Room Server / Wait staff roles,
with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
Smart Recruiting
