Waiters and Waitresses salary by state
The U.S. median wage for waiters and waitresses is $35,230 a year. Hawaii pays the most on average. Take-home pay and buying power use Wagevane's calculators.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 35-3031.
| State | Median salary | Average salary | Take-home (median) | Buying power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $26,840 | $27,200 | $22,636 | $25,484 |
| Alaska | $26,310 | $33,640 | $23,013 | $22,483 |
| Arizona | $43,950 | $51,170 | $36,798 | $36,550 |
| Arkansas | $24,680 | $29,050 | $21,496 | $24,726 |
| California | $36,080 | $44,600 | $30,275 | $27,344 |
| Colorado | $44,860 | $51,240 | $36,762 | $35,673 |
| Connecticut | $37,770 | $46,220 | $31,565 | $30,465 |
| Delaware | $36,880 | $43,070 | $30,296 | $30,354 |
| District of Columbia | $47,850 | $59,510 | $38,922 | $35,416 |
| Florida | $36,150 | $41,840 | $31,227 | $30,196 |
| Georgia | $18,700 | $26,610 | $16,825 | $17,473 |
| Hawaii | $62,390 | $68,260 | $49,061 | $44,620 |
| Idaho | $30,050 | $35,320 | $25,841 | $27,060 |
| Illinois | $31,200 | $35,610 | $25,850 | $25,860 |
| Indiana | $28,480 | $31,170 | $24,253 | $25,986 |
| Iowa | $21,000 | $26,940 | $18,757 | $21,373 |
| Kansas | $36,120 | $39,170 | $29,987 | $33,293 |
| Kentucky | $29,660 | $35,410 | $25,091 | $27,830 |
| Louisiana | $15,080 | $22,350 | $13,860 | $15,713 |
| Maine | $43,370 | $51,260 | $35,065 | $36,131 |
| Maryland | $36,750 | $43,950 | $30,327 | $28,894 |
| Massachusetts | $38,460 | $44,480 | $31,203 | $29,504 |
| Michigan | $37,760 | $44,910 | $31,166 | $32,391 |
| Minnesota | $25,470 | $30,060 | $21,928 | $22,235 |
| Mississippi | $21,370 | $24,680 | $19,085 | $21,949 |
| Missouri | $29,400 | $38,620 | $25,358 | $27,923 |
| Montana | $23,370 | $29,180 | $20,514 | $21,674 |
| Nebraska | $33,770 | $39,590 | $28,657 | $31,805 |
| Nevada | $26,410 | $36,870 | $23,359 | $23,364 |
| New Hampshire | $38,430 | $43,380 | $33,059 | $31,737 |
| New Jersey | $44,960 | $50,260 | $36,799 | $33,821 |
| New Mexico | $36,920 | $43,210 | $31,225 | $33,862 |
| New York | $47,020 | $54,750 | $37,784 | $35,011 |
| North Carolina | $32,150 | $37,850 | $27,238 | $28,877 |
| North Dakota | $30,890 | $36,250 | $27,000 | $30,351 |
| Ohio | $36,700 | $42,190 | $31,442 | $33,891 |
| Oklahoma | $17,910 | $25,870 | $16,098 | $18,326 |
| Oregon | $48,410 | $52,400 | $37,332 | $36,118 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,690 | $38,110 | $28,940 | $29,660 |
| Rhode Island | $35,420 | $42,740 | $29,539 | $28,880 |
| South Carolina | $18,370 | $25,900 | $16,671 | $17,782 |
| South Dakota | $28,990 | $30,860 | $25,473 | $28,756 |
| Tennessee | $27,760 | $29,070 | $24,470 | $26,636 |
| Texas | $23,240 | $29,750 | $20,748 | $21,377 |
| Utah | $31,150 | $37,360 | $26,621 | $26,927 |
| Vermont | $59,140 | $58,850 | $48,087 | $49,089 |
| Virginia | $44,760 | $46,680 | $36,385 | $35,988 |
| Washington | $56,130 | $60,590 | $46,502 | $43,454 |
| West Virginia | $35,380 | $38,350 | $29,711 | $33,197 |
| Wisconsin | $29,670 | $34,570 | $25,494 | $27,094 |
| Wyoming | $23,920 | $31,120 | $21,308 | $22,988 |