Restaurant Waiter Salary in Gary, IN

How much does a Restaurant Waiter make in Gary, IN?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Restaurant Waiter in Gary, IN is $26,574 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $13.

However, a Restaurant Waiter's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $30,214
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $24,478 to $28,479
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $22,569
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View as table View as graph 25% $24,478 10% $22,569 90% $30,214 75% $28,479 $26,574 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Restaurant Waiter Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $28,479 $2,373 $548 $14
Average $26,574 $2,214 $511 $13
25th Percentile $24,478 $2,040 $471 $12
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Key Factors That Influence Restaurant Waiter Salaries

A Restaurant Waiter'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, skills and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

Top Paying Cities for Restaurant Waiters

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: $33,703
  • San Francisco: $33,334
  • Oakland: $32,632

What Skills Can Increase a Restaurant Waiter's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 12.76% 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.
  • Food Handling (Mentioned in 3.11% Job Postings): Food Handling means one or more operations of food production, manufacture, offering or displaying for sale, storage, preserving, wrapping, transportation, delivery, importation, exportation, or the licensing or approval for any of such activities.
  • Packaging (Mentioned in 1.57% Job Postings): Preparing products through wrapping or bottling to protect the goods from damages during transportation and storage.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 12.76%
Food Handling 3.11%
Packaging 1.57%
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 Restaurant Waiter's salary.
  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Accountability: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Initiative
$28,700
8%
Accountability
$28,700
8%
Leadership
$28,434
7%
Team Management
$28,434
7%
Safety Policies and Procedures
$28,434
7%
Cash Handling
$28,168
6%
Get Latest Data

Restaurant Waiter Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Restaurant Waiter roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and MFG Nondurable sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Restaurant Waiter positions in Financial Services or Pharmaceuticals typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Restaurant Waiter as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Restaurant Waiter

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$37,204$18.040%
MFG Nondurable$35,875$17.035%
Business Services$34,546$17.030%
Aerospace & Defense$33,217$16.025%
Insurance$31,889$15.020%

Restaurant Waiter Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Restaurant Waiter'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.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Find Your Next Restaurant Waiter Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Restaurant Waiter job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
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Cost of Living In Gary, IN

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