Waiter and Waitress salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A waiter and waitress earns a median of $35,230 a year ($16.94 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $40,060. About 2,270,910 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $35,230
- Gross pay
- $1,355.00
- Federal income tax
- −$78.75
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$84.01
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$19.65
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,172.59
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $35,230
- Federal
- $2,048
- FICA
- $2,695
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $30,487
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Waiter and Waitress salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $62,390 | $68,260 | 14,090 |
| Vermont | $59,140 | $58,850 | 4,040 |
| Washington | $56,130 | $60,590 | 45,400 |
| Oregon | $48,410 | $52,400 | 23,040 |
| District of Columbia | $47,850 | $59,510 | 11,530 |
| New York | $47,020 | $54,750 | 142,940 |
| New Jersey | $44,960 | $50,260 | 55,800 |
| Colorado | $44,860 | $51,240 | 40,680 |
| Virginia | $44,760 | $46,680 | 59,370 |
| Arizona | $43,950 | $51,170 | 55,950 |
| Maine | $43,370 | $51,260 | 9,090 |
| Massachusetts | $38,460 | $44,480 | 54,670 |
| New Hampshire | $38,430 | $43,380 | 10,030 |
| Connecticut | $37,770 | $46,220 | 22,370 |
| Michigan | $37,760 | $44,910 | 65,090 |
| New Mexico | $36,920 | $43,210 | 12,740 |
| Delaware | $36,880 | $43,070 | 7,580 |
| Maryland | $36,750 | $43,950 | 38,120 |
| Ohio | $36,700 | $42,190 | 77,250 |
| Florida | $36,150 | $41,840 | 207,180 |
| Kansas | $36,120 | $39,170 | 19,480 |
| California | $36,080 | $44,600 | 229,970 |
| Rhode Island | $35,420 | $42,740 | 10,160 |
| West Virginia | $35,380 | $38,350 | 8,600 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,690 | $38,110 | 82,300 |
| Nebraska | $33,770 | $39,590 | 13,310 |
| North Carolina | $32,150 | $37,850 | 71,940 |
| Illinois | $31,200 | $35,610 | 72,900 |
| Utah | $31,150 | $37,360 | 17,790 |
| North Dakota | $30,890 | $36,250 | 5,250 |
| Idaho | $30,050 | $35,320 | 10,950 |
| Wisconsin | $29,670 | $34,570 | 36,220 |
| Kentucky | $29,660 | $35,410 | 27,150 |
| Missouri | $29,400 | $38,620 | 41,640 |
| South Dakota | $28,990 | $30,860 | 7,350 |
| Indiana | $28,480 | $31,170 | 43,620 |
| Tennessee | $27,760 | $29,070 | 52,120 |
| Alabama | $26,840 | $27,200 | 28,760 |
| Nevada | $26,410 | $36,870 | 42,520 |
| Alaska | $26,310 | $33,640 | 3,830 |
| Minnesota | $25,470 | $30,060 | 37,630 |
| Arkansas | $24,680 | $29,050 | 17,880 |
| Wyoming | $23,920 | $31,120 | 3,620 |
| Montana | $23,370 | $29,180 | 7,200 |
| Texas | $23,240 | $29,750 | 199,610 |
| Mississippi | $21,370 | $24,680 | 15,190 |
| Iowa | $21,000 | $26,940 | 22,410 |
| Georgia | $18,700 | $26,610 | 76,470 |
| South Carolina | $18,370 | $25,900 | 47,200 |
| Oklahoma | $17,910 | $25,870 | 27,000 |
| Louisiana | $15,080 | $22,350 | 33,870 |
Similar jobs
- Food Preparation Worker: $35,320
- Food Server: $35,360
- Dishwasher: $34,810
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker: $35,840
- Cook: $35,880
- Bartender: $34,340
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper: $33,980
- Cook: $37,390
BLS occupation: Waiters and Waitresses. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 35-3031). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $16.94; the average is $19.26.
Which state pays waiters and waitresses the most?
Hawaii ($62,390 median), followed by Vermont and Washington.
What is the salary range for a waiter and waitress?
The bottom 10% earn under $18,100 and the top 10% earn over $64,720 a year.
How much is $35,230 after taxes?
About $30,487 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $29,637 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.