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): $23,695
Early Career (1-2 years): $41,183
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $55,583
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $83,745
Expert (over 8 years): $116,630
Levels
Salary
Waitstaff... Level Waitstaff/Server
$23,695
Assistant... Level Waitstaff/Server
$41,183
Restauran... Level Waitstaff/Server
$55,583
Regional ... Level Waitstaff/Server
$83,745
Restauran... Level Waitstaff/Server
$116,630
$23,6950 yr
$41,183< 2 yrs
$55,5832-4 yrs
$83,7455-8 yrs
$116,630> 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: $26,374.
California: $26,274.
Massachusetts: $25,924.
District of Columbia$26,374
California$26,274
Massachusetts$25,924
Washington$25,828
New Jersey$25,819
Alaska$25,786
Connecticut$25,457
New York$25,323
Hawaii$24,897
Rhode Island$24,697
Maryland$24,561
Minnesota$24,375
Colorado$24,304
Illinois$24,280
Oregon$24,190
Delaware$24,123
New Hampshire$24,081
Virginia$23,987
Pennsylvania$23,713
Nevada$23,575
North Dakota$23,530
Michigan$23,458
Wisconsin$23,432
Vermont$23,380
Texas$23,234
Maine$23,225
Arizona$23,211
Ohio$23,194
Georgia$22,975
Indiana$22,865
Wyoming$22,844
Utah$22,810
Iowa$22,796
Kansas$22,682
Louisiana$22,648
North Carolina$22,637
Missouri$22,632
Florida$22,539
Montana$22,489
Nebraska$22,441
Kentucky$22,415
South Carolina$22,320
Tennessee$22,260
Idaho$22,236
New Mexico$22,062
Oklahoma$22,024
Alabama$21,884
South Dakota$21,648
Arkansas$21,519
West Virginia$21,450
Mississippi$21,243
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: $30,045
San Francisco: $29,716
Oakland: $29,089
San Jose, CA$30,045
San Francisco, CA$29,716
Oakland, CA$29,089
New York, NY$27,427
Paramus, NJ$27,093
Queens Village, NY$27,092
Passaic, NJ$27,069
Bergenfield, NJ$27,067
Stamford, CT$27,015
Huntington, NY$27,005
Newark, NJ$26,829
Bridgeport, CT$26,779
Vallejo, CA$26,731
New Brunswick, NJ$26,722
Petaluma, CA$26,707
Middlesex, NJ$26,662
Somerset, NJ$26,645
Santa Cruz, CA$26,615
Boston, MA$26,469
Monterey, CA$26,386
Seattle, WA$26,331
Santa Rosa, CA$26,326
Los Angeles, CA$26,319
Juneau, AK$26,257
Washington, DC$26,231
Orange, CA$26,146
Santa Ana, CA$26,083
Long Beach, CA$26,060
Anaheim, CA$26,055
Anchorage, AK$26,043
Santa Maria, CA$25,971
Everett, WA$25,967
Danbury, CT$25,883
Bremerton, WA$25,850
Tacoma, WA$25,764
New Suffolk, NY$25,764
Sacramento, CA$25,757
Santa Barbara, CA$25,731
Trenton, NJ$25,705
San Diego, CA$25,705
Brockton, MA$25,678
Fairbanks, AK$25,620
Lompoc, CA$25,559
Lowell, MA$25,540
Ventura, CA$25,535
Nashua, NH$25,531
Stockton, CA$25,528
Modesto, CA$25,354
Poughkeepsie, NY$25,302
Olympia, WA$25,257
Kennewick, WA$25,257
New Haven, CT$25,247
Lawrence, MA$25,161
Hartford, CT$25,138
Riverside, CA$25,133
New Bedford, MA$25,109
Richland, WA$25,109
Bakersfield, CA$25,076
San Bernardino, CA$25,066
New Britain, CT$25,064
Atlantic City, NJ$25,064
New London, CT$25,054
Norwich, CT$25,047
Portsmouth, NH$25,042
Boulder, CO$24,992
Portland, OR$24,959
Worcester, MA$24,957
Minneapolis, MN$24,883
Philadelphia, PA$24,849
Honolulu, HI$24,771
Saint Paul, MN$24,759
Vineland, NJ$24,754
Providence, RI$24,685
Chicago, IL$24,616
Bellingham, WA$24,587
Springfield, MA$24,568
Baltimore, MD$24,561
Chico, CA$24,502
Pittsfield, MA$24,437
Manchester, NH$24,392
Spokane, WA$24,287
Denver, CO$24,285
Albany, NY$24,173
Troy, NY$24,163
Nassau, NY$24,138
Schenectady, NY$24,113
Wilmington, DE$24,094
Burlington, VT$24,061
Salem, OR$24,051
Portland, ME$23,978
Yakima, WA$23,954
Rochester, MN$23,880
Reno, NV$23,868
Fresno, CA$23,868
Milwaukee, WI$23,847
Detroit, MI$23,823
Ann Arbor, MI$23,819
Allentown, PA$23,816
Colorado Springs, CO$23,775
Syracuse, NY$23,763
Carson City, NV$23,763
Houston, TX$23,730
Eugene, OR$23,718
Gary, IN$23,689
Springfield, OR$23,670
Bismarck, ND$23,666
Galveston, TX$23,649
Medford, OR$23,613
Fort Collins, CO$23,604
Concord, NH$23,592
Austin, TX$23,585
Mesa, AZ$23,535
Reading, PA$23,532
Phoenix, AZ$23,530
Dallas, TX$23,523
Saint Cloud, MN$23,500
Madison, WI$23,468
Utica, NY$23,404
Rochester, NY$23,365
Des Moines, IA$23,363
Raleigh, NC$23,361
Atlanta, GA$23,325
Battle Creek, MI$23,318
Salt Lake City, UT$23,311
Lancaster, PA$23,275
Harrisburg, PA$23,242
Kansas City, MO$23,218
Champaign, IL$23,213
Kansas City, KS$23,213
Fort Worth, TX$23,211
Columbus, OH$23,207
Boca Raton, FL$23,201
Pittsburgh, PA$23,192
Richmond, VA$23,182
Indianapolis, IN$23,177
Cleveland, OH$23,175
Las Vegas, NV$23,146
Cincinnati, OH$23,146
Petersburg, VA$23,111
Huntsville, AL$23,075
Lansing, MI$23,059
Lebanon, PA$23,056
Pueblo, CO$23,053
Appleton, WI$23,046
Buffalo, NY$23,037
Dayton, OH$23,030
Racine, WI$23,025
Charlotte, NC$23,022
Saint Louis, MO$23,015
York, PA$23,001
Elkhart, IN$23,001
Gastonia, NC$22,996
Billings, MT$22,991
Beaumont, TX$22,984
Lorain, OH$22,980
Benton Harbor, MI$22,975
Toledo, OH$22,970
Binghamton, NY$22,958
Rock Hill, SC$22,956
Rockford, IL$22,944
Springfield, IL$22,934
Elyria, OH$22,932
Fargo, ND$22,932
Flagstaff, AZ$22,915
Fort Lauderdale, FL$22,901
Duluth, MN$22,887
Miami, FL$22,887
Cheyenne, WY$22,870
Grand Forks, ND$22,870
Bangor, ME$22,818
Cedar Rapids, IA$22,791
Durham, NC$22,781
Louisville, KY$22,779
Grand Rapids, MI$22,775
Hialeah, FL$22,772
Casper, WY$22,739
Scranton, PA$22,710
New Orleans, LA$22,703
Virginia Beach, VA$22,701
Akron, OH$22,689
Peoria, IL$22,658
Sarasota, FL$22,653
Nashville, TN$22,637
Omaha, NE$22,637
Green Bay, WI$22,637
Baton Rouge, LA$22,625
Charleston, SC$22,620
Jamestown, NY$22,608
Davenport, IA$22,608
Tucson, AZ$22,596
Saint Petersburg, FL$22,582
Tampa, FL$22,577
Evansville, IN$22,563
Port Arthur, TX$22,563
Bradenton, FL$22,553
Santa Fe, NM$22,510
Orlando, FL$22,467
Clearwater, FL$22,460
Canton, OH$22,410
La Crosse, WI$22,410
Albuquerque, NM$22,396
Newport News, VA$22,394
High Point, NC$22,386
Ogden, UT$22,377
Corpus Christi, TX$22,358
Norfolk, VA$22,344
Laramie, WY$22,344
Rock Island, IL$22,329
Saginaw, MI$22,324
Jacksonville, FL$22,322
Salisbury, NC$22,317
Boise, ID$22,313
Moline, IL$22,301
Fort Myers, FL$22,294
Memphis, TN$22,289
Tulsa, OK$22,277
Waterloo, IA$22,263
Spartanburg, SC$22,239
Lincoln, NE$22,227
Fort Wayne, IN$22,222
Provo, UT$22,220
Cedar Falls, IA$22,191
San Antonio, TX$22,182
Greensboro, NC$22,172
South Bend, IN$22,170
Savannah, GA$22,143
Muskegon, MI$22,134
Birmingham, AL$22,132
Winston Salem, NC$22,120
Lake Charles, LA$22,062
Anderson, IN$22,058
Lexington, KY$22,051
Augusta, GA$22,043
Greenville, SC$22,043
Lima, OH$22,024
Wichita, KS$22,022
Tuscaloosa, AL$22,022
Columbia, SC$22,001
Springfield, OH$21,996
Asheville, NC$21,958
Bloomington, IN$21,941
Knoxville, TN$21,855
Shreveport, LA$21,853
Wilmington, NC$21,822
Roanoke, VA$21,822
Topeka, KS$21,779
Frankfort, KY$21,776
Oklahoma City, OK$21,760
Chillicothe, OH$21,750
Longview, TX$21,748
Melbourne, FL$21,746
Sioux Falls, SD$21,708
Mobile, AL$21,705
Terre Haute, IN$21,696
Altoona, PA$21,681
Amarillo, TX$21,665
Killeen, TX$21,658
Fayetteville, AR$21,638
Chattanooga, TN$21,631
Sioux City, IA$21,610
Idaho Falls, ID$21,605
Lynchburg, VA$21,586
Gainesville, FL$21,555
Portsmouth, OH$21,543
Little Rock, AR$21,538
Lafayette, LA$21,529
Youngstown, OH$21,529
Daytona Beach, FL$21,515
Clarksville, TN$21,512
Pensacola, FL$21,510
Temple, TX$21,508
Hopkinsville, KY$21,438
Erie, PA$21,434
Florence, SC$21,424
Charleston, WV$21,386
Great Falls, MT$21,374
Macon, GA$21,341
Tallahassee, FL$21,338
Fayetteville, NC$21,334
Waco, TX$21,329
Helena, MT$21,312
Pine Bluff, AR$21,303
Vincennes, IN$21,274
Lubbock, TX$21,264
Alamogordo, NM$21,250
Twin Falls, ID$21,229
Rapid City, SD$21,222
Jackson, MS$21,179
Huntington, WV$21,177
Greenville, MS$21,176
Parkersburg, WV$21,152
Montgomery, AL$21,148
Wichita Falls, TX$21,124
Springfield, MO$21,124
Biloxi, MS$21,112
Monroe, LA$21,088
Johnstown, PA$21,072
Sumter, SC$21,062
Columbus, GA$21,060
Pascagoula, MS$21,014
Abilene, TX$21,014
Kingsport, TN$20,952
Albany, GA$20,952
Gulfport, MS$20,945
Alexandria, LA$20,867
Fort Smith, AR$20,807
El Paso, TX$20,743
Las Cruces, NM$20,636
Harlingen, TX$20,575
Pocatello, ID$20,571
Florence, AL$20,540
Brownsville, TX$20,536
Mcallen, TX$20,486
Dothan, AL$20,452
Columbus, MS$20,311
Altus, OK$20,200
Lawton, OK$20,154
Pierre, SD$20,069
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
$30,014
26%
Problem Solving
$24,535
3%
Collaboration
$24,535
3%
Team Management
$24,535
3%
Food Safety
$24,059
1%
Leadership
$24,059
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
$28,584
$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 August 01, 2026
$21,942
Average$23,820/year
$25,527
$1,828
Average$1,985/month
$2,127
$422
Average$458/week
$491
$11
Average$11/hour
$12
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$25,527
$2,127
$491
$12
Average
$23,820
$1,985
$458
$11
25th Percentile
$21,942
$1,828
$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)
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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
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Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu...
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Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ...
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Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry...
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Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P...
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Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi...
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The United States Postal Service (USPS) is seeking Mail Carriers and City Carrier Assistants (CCA) to deliver mail and packages to residential and business...
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FAQ about Waitstaff/Server
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Waitstaff/Server?
The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for Waitstaff/Server 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.
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