Key Factors That Influence Waitress Server Salaries
A Waitress Server'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 Waitress Server Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Waitress Server'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): $23,855
Early Career (1-2 years): $41,450
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $55,945
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $84,274
Expert (over 8 years): $117,355
Levels
Salary
Waitress ... Level Waitress Server
$23,855
Assistant... Level Waitress Server
$41,450
Restauran... Level Waitress Server
$55,945
Regional ... Level Waitress Server
$84,274
Restauran... Level Waitress Server
$117,355
$23,8550 yr
$41,450< 2 yrs
$55,9452-4 yrs
$84,2745-8 yrs
$117,355> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Waitress Server 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 Waitress Servers.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $26,553.
California: $26,452.
Massachusetts: $26,100.
District of Columbia$26,553
California$26,452
Massachusetts$26,100
Washington$26,004
New Jersey$25,994
Alaska$25,960
Connecticut$25,629
New York$25,495
Hawaii$25,066
Rhode Island$24,864
Maryland$24,728
Minnesota$24,541
Colorado$24,469
Illinois$24,445
Oregon$24,354
Delaware$24,286
New Hampshire$24,244
Virginia$24,150
Pennsylvania$23,874
Nevada$23,735
North Dakota$23,689
Michigan$23,617
Wisconsin$23,591
Vermont$23,538
Texas$23,392
Maine$23,382
Arizona$23,368
Ohio$23,351
Georgia$23,131
Indiana$23,020
Wyoming$22,999
Utah$22,965
Iowa$22,951
Kansas$22,836
Louisiana$22,802
North Carolina$22,790
Missouri$22,785
Florida$22,692
Montana$22,641
Nebraska$22,593
Kentucky$22,567
South Carolina$22,471
Tennessee$22,411
Idaho$22,387
New Mexico$22,212
Oklahoma$22,174
Alabama$22,032
South Dakota$21,795
Arkansas$21,665
West Virginia$21,596
Mississippi$21,387
Top Paying Cities for Waitress Servers
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: $30,248
San Francisco: $29,917
Oakland: $29,287
San Jose, CA$30,248
San Francisco, CA$29,917
Oakland, CA$29,287
New York, NY$27,613
Paramus, NJ$27,277
Queens Village, NY$27,276
Passaic, NJ$27,253
Bergenfield, NJ$27,251
Stamford, CT$27,198
Huntington, NY$27,188
Newark, NJ$27,011
Bridgeport, CT$26,960
Vallejo, CA$26,912
New Brunswick, NJ$26,903
Petaluma, CA$26,889
Middlesex, NJ$26,843
Somerset, NJ$26,826
Santa Cruz, CA$26,795
Boston, MA$26,649
Monterey, CA$26,565
Seattle, WA$26,510
Santa Rosa, CA$26,505
Los Angeles, CA$26,498
Juneau, AK$26,435
Washington, DC$26,409
Orange, CA$26,323
Santa Ana, CA$26,260
Long Beach, CA$26,236
Anaheim, CA$26,231
Anchorage, AK$26,219
Santa Maria, CA$26,147
Everett, WA$26,143
Danbury, CT$26,058
Bremerton, WA$26,025
Tacoma, WA$25,939
New Suffolk, NY$25,938
Sacramento, CA$25,932
Santa Barbara, CA$25,905
Trenton, NJ$25,879
San Diego, CA$25,879
Brockton, MA$25,852
Fairbanks, AK$25,794
Lompoc, CA$25,733
Lowell, MA$25,713
Ventura, CA$25,709
Nashua, NH$25,704
Stockton, CA$25,701
Modesto, CA$25,526
Poughkeepsie, NY$25,474
Olympia, WA$25,428
Kennewick, WA$25,428
New Haven, CT$25,418
Lawrence, MA$25,332
Hartford, CT$25,308
Riverside, CA$25,303
New Bedford, MA$25,279
Richland, WA$25,279
Bakersfield, CA$25,246
San Bernardino, CA$25,236
New Britain, CT$25,234
Atlantic City, NJ$25,234
New London, CT$25,224
Norwich, CT$25,217
Portsmouth, NH$25,212
Boulder, CO$25,161
Portland, OR$25,128
Worcester, MA$25,126
Minneapolis, MN$25,051
Philadelphia, PA$25,018
Honolulu, HI$24,939
Saint Paul, MN$24,927
Vineland, NJ$24,922
Providence, RI$24,852
Chicago, IL$24,783
Bellingham, WA$24,754
Springfield, MA$24,735
Baltimore, MD$24,728
Chico, CA$24,668
Pittsfield, MA$24,603
Manchester, NH$24,557
Spokane, WA$24,452
Denver, CO$24,450
Albany, NY$24,337
Troy, NY$24,327
Nassau, NY$24,302
Schenectady, NY$24,277
Wilmington, DE$24,258
Burlington, VT$24,224
Salem, OR$24,215
Portland, ME$24,140
Yakima, WA$24,116
Rochester, MN$24,042
Reno, NV$24,030
Fresno, CA$24,030
Milwaukee, WI$24,008
Detroit, MI$23,984
Ann Arbor, MI$23,980
Allentown, PA$23,977
Colorado Springs, CO$23,936
Syracuse, NY$23,924
Carson City, NV$23,924
Houston, TX$23,891
Eugene, OR$23,879
Gary, IN$23,850
Springfield, OR$23,831
Bismarck, ND$23,826
Galveston, TX$23,809
Medford, OR$23,773
Fort Collins, CO$23,764
Concord, NH$23,752
Austin, TX$23,744
Mesa, AZ$23,694
Reading, PA$23,692
Phoenix, AZ$23,689
Dallas, TX$23,682
Saint Cloud, MN$23,659
Madison, WI$23,627
Utica, NY$23,562
Rochester, NY$23,524
Des Moines, IA$23,521
Raleigh, NC$23,519
Atlanta, GA$23,483
Battle Creek, MI$23,476
Salt Lake City, UT$23,469
Lancaster, PA$23,433
Harrisburg, PA$23,399
Kansas City, MO$23,375
Champaign, IL$23,370
Kansas City, KS$23,370
Fort Worth, TX$23,368
Columbus, OH$23,364
Boca Raton, FL$23,358
Pittsburgh, PA$23,349
Richmond, VA$23,339
Indianapolis, IN$23,334
Cleveland, OH$23,332
Las Vegas, NV$23,303
Cincinnati, OH$23,303
Petersburg, VA$23,267
Huntsville, AL$23,231
Lansing, MI$23,215
Lebanon, PA$23,212
Pueblo, CO$23,210
Appleton, WI$23,202
Buffalo, NY$23,193
Dayton, OH$23,186
Racine, WI$23,181
Charlotte, NC$23,179
Saint Louis, MO$23,171
York, PA$23,157
Elkhart, IN$23,157
Gastonia, NC$23,152
Billings, MT$23,147
Beaumont, TX$23,140
Lorain, OH$23,135
Benton Harbor, MI$23,131
Toledo, OH$23,126
Binghamton, NY$23,114
Rock Hill, SC$23,111
Rockford, IL$23,099
Springfield, IL$23,090
Elyria, OH$23,087
Fargo, ND$23,087
Flagstaff, AZ$23,071
Fort Lauderdale, FL$23,056
Duluth, MN$23,042
Miami, FL$23,042
Cheyenne, WY$23,025
Grand Forks, ND$23,025
Bangor, ME$22,972
Cedar Rapids, IA$22,946
Durham, NC$22,936
Louisville, KY$22,934
Grand Rapids, MI$22,929
Hialeah, FL$22,927
Casper, WY$22,893
Scranton, PA$22,864
New Orleans, LA$22,857
Virginia Beach, VA$22,855
Akron, OH$22,843
Peoria, IL$22,812
Sarasota, FL$22,807
Nashville, TN$22,790
Omaha, NE$22,790
Green Bay, WI$22,790
Baton Rouge, LA$22,778
Charleston, SC$22,773
Jamestown, NY$22,761
Davenport, IA$22,761
Tucson, AZ$22,749
Saint Petersburg, FL$22,735
Tampa, FL$22,730
Evansville, IN$22,716
Port Arthur, TX$22,716
Bradenton, FL$22,706
Santa Fe, NM$22,663
Orlando, FL$22,620
Clearwater, FL$22,613
Canton, OH$22,562
La Crosse, WI$22,562
Albuquerque, NM$22,548
Newport News, VA$22,545
High Point, NC$22,538
Ogden, UT$22,529
Corpus Christi, TX$22,509
Norfolk, VA$22,495
Laramie, WY$22,495
Rock Island, IL$22,481
Saginaw, MI$22,476
Jacksonville, FL$22,473
Salisbury, NC$22,469
Boise, ID$22,464
Moline, IL$22,452
Fort Myers, FL$22,445
Memphis, TN$22,440
Tulsa, OK$22,428
Waterloo, IA$22,413
Spartanburg, SC$22,390
Lincoln, NE$22,378
Fort Wayne, IN$22,373
Provo, UT$22,370
Cedar Falls, IA$22,342
San Antonio, TX$22,332
Greensboro, NC$22,322
South Bend, IN$22,320
Savannah, GA$22,294
Muskegon, MI$22,284
Birmingham, AL$22,282
Winston Salem, NC$22,270
Lake Charles, LA$22,212
Anderson, IN$22,207
Lexington, KY$22,200
Augusta, GA$22,193
Greenville, SC$22,193
Lima, OH$22,174
Wichita, KS$22,171
Tuscaloosa, AL$22,171
Columbia, SC$22,150
Springfield, OH$22,145
Asheville, NC$22,107
Bloomington, IN$22,090
Knoxville, TN$22,003
Shreveport, LA$22,001
Wilmington, NC$21,970
Roanoke, VA$21,970
Topeka, KS$21,927
Frankfort, KY$21,924
Oklahoma City, OK$21,907
Chillicothe, OH$21,898
Longview, TX$21,895
Melbourne, FL$21,893
Sioux Falls, SD$21,855
Mobile, AL$21,852
Terre Haute, IN$21,843
Altoona, PA$21,828
Amarillo, TX$21,812
Killeen, TX$21,804
Fayetteville, AR$21,785
Chattanooga, TN$21,778
Sioux City, IA$21,756
Idaho Falls, ID$21,752
Lynchburg, VA$21,732
Gainesville, FL$21,701
Portsmouth, OH$21,689
Little Rock, AR$21,684
Lafayette, LA$21,675
Youngstown, OH$21,675
Daytona Beach, FL$21,660
Clarksville, TN$21,658
Pensacola, FL$21,656
Temple, TX$21,654
Hopkinsville, KY$21,584
Erie, PA$21,579
Florence, SC$21,569
Charleston, WV$21,531
Great Falls, MT$21,519
Macon, GA$21,485
Tallahassee, FL$21,483
Fayetteville, NC$21,478
Waco, TX$21,473
Helena, MT$21,457
Pine Bluff, AR$21,447
Vincennes, IN$21,418
Lubbock, TX$21,409
Alamogordo, NM$21,394
Twin Falls, ID$21,373
Rapid City, SD$21,365
Jackson, MS$21,322
Huntington, WV$21,321
Greenville, MS$21,320
Parkersburg, WV$21,295
Montgomery, AL$21,291
Wichita Falls, TX$21,267
Springfield, MO$21,267
Biloxi, MS$21,255
Monroe, LA$21,231
Johnstown, PA$21,214
Sumter, SC$21,205
Columbus, GA$21,202
Pascagoula, MS$21,157
Abilene, TX$21,157
Kingsport, TN$21,094
Albany, GA$21,094
Gulfport, MS$21,087
Alexandria, LA$21,008
Fort Smith, AR$20,948
El Paso, TX$20,883
Las Cruces, NM$20,776
Harlingen, TX$20,715
Pocatello, ID$20,711
Florence, AL$20,680
Brownsville, TX$20,675
Mcallen, TX$20,624
Dothan, AL$20,591
Columbus, MS$20,448
Altus, OK$20,337
Lawton, OK$20,291
Pierre, SD$20,205
What Skills Can Increase a Waitress Server'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 Waitress Server'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
$30,217
26%
Problem Solving
$24,701
3%
Collaboration
$24,701
3%
Team Management
$24,701
3%
Food Safety
$24,222
1%
Leadership
$24,222
1%
Get Latest Data
Waitress Server Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Waitress Server 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,
Waitress Server positions in Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Waitress Server as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Waitress Server
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
$28,778
$14.0
20%
Waitress Server Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Waitress Server'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.
Salaries for a Waitress Server can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $30,107 in 2023
to around $29,615 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Waitress Server salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Waitress Server Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$30,107
2024
$29,961
2025
$29,615
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$30,107
2024
$29,961
2025
$29,615
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Waitress Server
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
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Compensation Planning
Common company salaries for Waitress Server
Here are companies hiring for Waitress Server 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
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