Waiter Salary in the US
$7.35
per hour
per year
$24,980
per year
per hour
Bonus
$320/year
Commission
$5,350/year
Waiter - Average Salary
The average salary for a Waiter is $7.35 per hour ($24,980 per year), which is $28,510 (-53%) lower than the average salary in the US.
A Waiter can expect an average starting pay of $2.50. The highest salaries can exceed $13.45.
A Waiter can expect an average starting pay of $2.50. The highest salaries can exceed $13.45.
$2.50
Low
$7.35
Average salary
$13.45
High
$5,200
Low
$24,980
Average salary
$49,400
High
View all Waiter jobs on Jobted US
Waiter Salary Range
Among Waiters in the US, Cruise Ship Waiters working for companies like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line or Carnival enjoy the highest salaries.
Waiter - Salary Differences
| Job | Salary | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Head Waiter | $8.70/hour | +18% |
| Royal Caribbean Waiter | $8.10/hour | +10% |
| Norwegian Cruise Line Waiter | $8.10/hour | +10% |
| Carnival Cruise Waiter | $8/hour | +9% |
| Cruise Ship Waiter | $7.90/hour | +7% |
| Restaurant Waiter | $7.10/hour | -3% |
Waiter - Pay by Experience Level in the United States
A Waiter with less than three years of experience can expect to earn an average starting pay of $6.70 per hour. A mid career Waiter with 4-9 years of experience earns an average salary of $7, while an experienced Waiter with 10-20 years of experience makes on average $8.30. Waiters with more than 20 years of experience earn $7.25 per hour on average.
How Work Experience Affects the Salary of a Waiter
| Experienced | ▲ +13% |
| Average Salary | $7.35/hour |
| Late Career | ▼ -1% |
| Mid Career | ▼ -5% |
| No Experience | ▼ -9% |
Gender Breakdown
Female
64%
64%
Male
36%
36%
Waiter - Related Salaries
The salary information presented on this page is based on all Waiter jobs published on Jobted in the last 12 months and on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov).
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Frequently asked questions about the salary of the Waiter
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Waiter Jobs