Key Factors That Influence Waitstaff/Server Salaries
A Waitstaff/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 Waitstaff/Server Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Waitstaff/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): $23,702
Early Career (1-2 years): $41,182
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $55,585
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $83,731
Expert (over 8 years): $116,599
Levels
Salary
Waitstaff... Level Waitstaff/Server
$23,702
Assistant... Level Waitstaff/Server
$41,182
Restauran... Level Waitstaff/Server
$55,585
Regional ... Level Waitstaff/Server
$83,731
Restauran... Level Waitstaff/Server
$116,599
$23,7020 yr
$41,182< 2 yrs
$55,5852-4 yrs
$83,7315-8 yrs
$116,599> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Waitstaff/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 Waitstaff/Servers.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $26,382.
California: $26,282.
Massachusetts: $25,931.
District of Columbia$26,382
California$26,282
Massachusetts$25,931
Washington$25,836
New Jersey$25,826
Alaska$25,793
Connecticut$25,464
New York$25,331
Hawaii$24,904
Rhode Island$24,704
Maryland$24,568
Minnesota$24,382
Colorado$24,311
Illinois$24,287
Oregon$24,197
Delaware$24,130
New Hampshire$24,088
Virginia$23,994
Pennsylvania$23,720
Nevada$23,582
North Dakota$23,537
Michigan$23,465
Wisconsin$23,439
Vermont$23,386
Texas$23,241
Maine$23,232
Arizona$23,217
Ohio$23,201
Georgia$22,981
Indiana$22,872
Wyoming$22,850
Utah$22,817
Iowa$22,803
Kansas$22,688
Louisiana$22,655
North Carolina$22,643
Missouri$22,638
Florida$22,545
Montana$22,495
Nebraska$22,448
Kentucky$22,421
South Carolina$22,326
Tennessee$22,267
Idaho$22,243
New Mexico$22,069
Oklahoma$22,031
Alabama$21,890
South Dakota$21,654
Arkansas$21,526
West Virginia$21,456
Mississippi$21,249
Top Paying Cities for Waitstaff/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: $30,053
San Francisco: $29,724
Oakland: $29,098
San Jose, CA$30,053
San Francisco, CA$29,724
Oakland, CA$29,098
New York, NY$27,435
Paramus, NJ$27,101
Queens Village, NY$27,100
Passaic, NJ$27,077
Bergenfield, NJ$27,075
Stamford, CT$27,023
Huntington, NY$27,013
Newark, NJ$26,837
Bridgeport, CT$26,786
Vallejo, CA$26,739
New Brunswick, NJ$26,729
Petaluma, CA$26,715
Middlesex, NJ$26,670
Somerset, NJ$26,653
Santa Cruz, CA$26,622
Boston, MA$26,477
Monterey, CA$26,393
Seattle, WA$26,339
Santa Rosa, CA$26,334
Los Angeles, CA$26,327
Juneau, AK$26,265
Washington, DC$26,239
Orange, CA$26,154
Santa Ana, CA$26,091
Long Beach, CA$26,067
Anaheim, CA$26,062
Anchorage, AK$26,050
Santa Maria, CA$25,979
Everett, WA$25,974
Danbury, CT$25,890
Bremerton, WA$25,857
Tacoma, WA$25,772
New Suffolk, NY$25,771
Sacramento, CA$25,764
Santa Barbara, CA$25,738
Trenton, NJ$25,712
San Diego, CA$25,712
Brockton, MA$25,686
Fairbanks, AK$25,627
Lompoc, CA$25,567
Lowell, MA$25,547
Ventura, CA$25,543
Nashua, NH$25,538
Stockton, CA$25,536
Modesto, CA$25,362
Poughkeepsie, NY$25,309
Olympia, WA$25,264
Kennewick, WA$25,264
New Haven, CT$25,255
Lawrence, MA$25,169
Hartford, CT$25,145
Riverside, CA$25,140
New Bedford, MA$25,116
Richland, WA$25,116
Bakersfield, CA$25,083
San Bernardino, CA$25,073
New Britain, CT$25,071
Atlantic City, NJ$25,071
New London, CT$25,062
Norwich, CT$25,054
Portsmouth, NH$25,050
Boulder, CO$24,999
Portland, OR$24,966
Worcester, MA$24,964
Minneapolis, MN$24,890
Philadelphia, PA$24,857
Honolulu, HI$24,778
Saint Paul, MN$24,767
Vineland, NJ$24,761
Providence, RI$24,692
Chicago, IL$24,623
Bellingham, WA$24,595
Springfield, MA$24,575
Baltimore, MD$24,568
Chico, CA$24,509
Pittsfield, MA$24,444
Manchester, NH$24,399
Spokane, WA$24,294
Denver, CO$24,292
Albany, NY$24,180
Troy, NY$24,170
Nassau, NY$24,145
Schenectady, NY$24,120
Wilmington, DE$24,101
Burlington, VT$24,068
Salem, OR$24,058
Portland, ME$23,985
Yakima, WA$23,961
Rochester, MN$23,887
Reno, NV$23,875
Fresno, CA$23,875
Milwaukee, WI$23,854
Detroit, MI$23,830
Ann Arbor, MI$23,826
Allentown, PA$23,823
Colorado Springs, CO$23,782
Syracuse, NY$23,770
Carson City, NV$23,770
Houston, TX$23,737
Eugene, OR$23,725
Gary, IN$23,696
Springfield, OR$23,677
Bismarck, ND$23,672
Galveston, TX$23,656
Medford, OR$23,620
Fort Collins, CO$23,610
Concord, NH$23,599
Austin, TX$23,591
Mesa, AZ$23,541
Reading, PA$23,539
Phoenix, AZ$23,537
Dallas, TX$23,529
Saint Cloud, MN$23,507
Madison, WI$23,475
Utica, NY$23,410
Rochester, NY$23,372
Des Moines, IA$23,370
Raleigh, NC$23,367
Atlanta, GA$23,332
Battle Creek, MI$23,325
Salt Lake City, UT$23,317
Lancaster, PA$23,282
Harrisburg, PA$23,248
Kansas City, MO$23,224
Champaign, IL$23,220
Kansas City, KS$23,220
Fort Worth, TX$23,217
Columbus, OH$23,213
Boca Raton, FL$23,208
Pittsburgh, PA$23,198
Richmond, VA$23,189
Indianapolis, IN$23,184
Cleveland, OH$23,182
Las Vegas, NV$23,153
Cincinnati, OH$23,153
Petersburg, VA$23,117
Huntsville, AL$23,082
Lansing, MI$23,066
Lebanon, PA$23,062
Pueblo, CO$23,060
Appleton, WI$23,053
Buffalo, NY$23,043
Dayton, OH$23,036
Racine, WI$23,031
Charlotte, NC$23,029
Saint Louis, MO$23,022
York, PA$23,008
Elkhart, IN$23,008
Gastonia, NC$23,003
Billings, MT$22,997
Beaumont, TX$22,991
Lorain, OH$22,986
Benton Harbor, MI$22,981
Toledo, OH$22,977
Binghamton, NY$22,965
Rock Hill, SC$22,962
Rockford, IL$22,950
Springfield, IL$22,941
Elyria, OH$22,939
Fargo, ND$22,939
Flagstaff, AZ$22,922
Fort Lauderdale, FL$22,908
Duluth, MN$22,893
Miami, FL$22,893
Cheyenne, WY$22,877
Grand Forks, ND$22,877
Bangor, ME$22,824
Cedar Rapids, IA$22,798
Durham, NC$22,788
Louisville, KY$22,786
Grand Rapids, MI$22,781
Hialeah, FL$22,779
Casper, WY$22,746
Scranton, PA$22,717
New Orleans, LA$22,710
Virginia Beach, VA$22,707
Akron, OH$22,696
Peoria, IL$22,665
Sarasota, FL$22,660
Nashville, TN$22,643
Omaha, NE$22,643
Green Bay, WI$22,643
Baton Rouge, LA$22,631
Charleston, SC$22,626
Jamestown, NY$22,614
Davenport, IA$22,614
Tucson, AZ$22,603
Saint Petersburg, FL$22,588
Tampa, FL$22,584
Evansville, IN$22,569
Port Arthur, TX$22,569
Bradenton, FL$22,560
Santa Fe, NM$22,517
Orlando, FL$22,474
Clearwater, FL$22,467
Canton, OH$22,417
La Crosse, WI$22,417
Albuquerque, NM$22,402
Newport News, VA$22,400
High Point, NC$22,393
Ogden, UT$22,383
Corpus Christi, TX$22,364
Norfolk, VA$22,350
Laramie, WY$22,350
Rock Island, IL$22,336
Saginaw, MI$22,331
Jacksonville, FL$22,329
Salisbury, NC$22,324
Boise, ID$22,319
Moline, IL$22,307
Fort Myers, FL$22,300
Memphis, TN$22,295
Tulsa, OK$22,283
Waterloo, IA$22,269
Spartanburg, SC$22,245
Lincoln, NE$22,233
Fort Wayne, IN$22,228
Provo, UT$22,226
Cedar Falls, IA$22,198
San Antonio, TX$22,188
Greensboro, NC$22,178
South Bend, IN$22,176
Savannah, GA$22,150
Muskegon, MI$22,140
Birmingham, AL$22,138
Winston Salem, NC$22,126
Lake Charles, LA$22,069
Anderson, IN$22,064
Lexington, KY$22,057
Augusta, GA$22,050
Greenville, SC$22,050
Lima, OH$22,031
Wichita, KS$22,028
Tuscaloosa, AL$22,028
Columbia, SC$22,007
Springfield, OH$22,002
Asheville, NC$21,964
Bloomington, IN$21,947
Knoxville, TN$21,862
Shreveport, LA$21,859
Wilmington, NC$21,828
Roanoke, VA$21,828
Topeka, KS$21,785
Frankfort, KY$21,783
Oklahoma City, OK$21,766
Chillicothe, OH$21,757
Longview, TX$21,754
Melbourne, FL$21,752
Sioux Falls, SD$21,714
Mobile, AL$21,711
Terre Haute, IN$21,702
Altoona, PA$21,688
Amarillo, TX$21,671
Killeen, TX$21,664
Fayetteville, AR$21,645
Chattanooga, TN$21,638
Sioux City, IA$21,616
Idaho Falls, ID$21,611
Lynchburg, VA$21,592
Gainesville, FL$21,561
Portsmouth, OH$21,549
Little Rock, AR$21,545
Lafayette, LA$21,535
Youngstown, OH$21,535
Daytona Beach, FL$21,521
Clarksville, TN$21,518
Pensacola, FL$21,516
Temple, TX$21,514
Hopkinsville, KY$21,445
Erie, PA$21,440
Florence, SC$21,430
Charleston, WV$21,392
Great Falls, MT$21,380
Macon, GA$21,347
Tallahassee, FL$21,344
Fayetteville, NC$21,340
Waco, TX$21,335
Helena, MT$21,318
Pine Bluff, AR$21,309
Vincennes, IN$21,280
Lubbock, TX$21,271
Alamogordo, NM$21,256
Twin Falls, ID$21,235
Rapid City, SD$21,228
Jackson, MS$21,185
Huntington, WV$21,183
Greenville, MS$21,182
Parkersburg, WV$21,158
Montgomery, AL$21,154
Wichita Falls, TX$21,130
Springfield, MO$21,130
Biloxi, MS$21,118
Monroe, LA$21,094
Johnstown, PA$21,078
Sumter, SC$21,068
Columbus, GA$21,066
Pascagoula, MS$21,020
Abilene, TX$21,020
Kingsport, TN$20,958
Albany, GA$20,958
Gulfport, MS$20,951
Alexandria, LA$20,873
Fort Smith, AR$20,813
El Paso, TX$20,749
Las Cruces, NM$20,642
Harlingen, TX$20,581
Pocatello, ID$20,577
Florence, AL$20,546
Brownsville, TX$20,542
Mcallen, TX$20,491
Dothan, AL$20,458
Columbus, MS$20,317
Altus, OK$20,206
Lawton, OK$20,160
Pierre, SD$20,075
What Skills Can Increase a Waitstaff/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 Waitstaff/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
$30,022
26%
Problem Solving
$24,542
3%
Collaboration
$24,542
3%
Team Management
$24,542
3%
Food Safety
$24,066
1%
Leadership
$24,066
1%
Get Latest Data
Waitstaff/Server Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Waitstaff/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,
Waitstaff/Server positions in Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Waitstaff/Server as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Waitstaff/Server
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
$28,593
$14.0
20%
Waitstaff/Server Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Waitstaff/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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$21,948
Average$23,827/year
$25,536
$1,829
Average$1,986/month
$2,128
$422
Average$458/week
$491
$11
Average$11/hour
$12
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$25,536
$2,128
$491
$12
Average
$23,827
$1,986
$458
$11
25th Percentile
$21,948
$1,829
$422
$11
Salary Trends for Waitstaff/Server
Salaries for a Waitstaff/Server can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $29,913 in 2023
to around $29,424 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Waitstaff/Server salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Waitstaff/Server Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$29,913
2024
$29,768
2025
$29,424
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$29,913
2024
$29,768
2025
$29,424
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Waitstaff/Server
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 Waitstaff/Server
Here are companies hiring for Waitstaff/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
Find Your Next Waitstaff/Server Job
Ready to take the next step in your career?
Browse thousands of current Waitstaff/Server job openings on our job board.
Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
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.
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
Recruit with AI
AI-Powered HR
