35 Series · SOC 35-3031
Waiters and Waitresses Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $35,230
- Median / year
- $64,720
- Top 10% earn
- -0.7%
- Growth '23–'33
- 2,270,910
- US workers
Waiters and Waitresses earn a median of $35,230 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $35,230, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $18,100 (10th percentile) to $64,720 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 2,270,910 US workers. Hawaii pays the most ($62,390), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Waiters and Waitresses earn a median of $35,230, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 2% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Food Preparation and Serving Related, it ranks #11 of 17 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 0.7% by 2033.
- $35,230
- Median annual wage
- Top 98%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #11 of 17
- in Food Preparation and Serving Related
- 3.6×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Hawaii at $62,390. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Waiters and Waitresses (SOC 35-3031) pays a national median of $35,230 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $18,100 at the 10th percentile to $64,720 at the 90th, with a mean of $40,060 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 2,270,910 Americans work in this occupation across 54 reporting states and 527 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -0.7% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 456,700 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is No formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.6 per 100,000 and injury rate of 2.4 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Hawaii pays the highest state median at $62,390, which is +77% above the national figure. The top metro is Kahului-Wailuku, HI at $82,550 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 2,270,910 jobs Median $35,230/yr
Median Salary
$35,230
per year
Median Hourly
$16.94/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$40,060
average
Employment
2,270,910
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Waiters and Waitresses pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$35,230 Bottom 2% higher than 2% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 35-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Waiters and Waitresses; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 17 35-series occupations with growth data, Waiters and Waitresses sits on the slower-growing side at -0.7% growth and $35,230 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-0.7%
Declining
Annual Openings
456,700
per year (projected)
Typical Education
No formal educational credential
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → A
Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.6/100K
Injury Rate
2.4/100
Danger Index
9.9/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Waiters and Waitresses roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Service Orientation 3.9
Active Listening 3.5
Speaking 3.5
Social Perceptiveness 3.4
Coordination 3.1
Monitoring 3.0
Critical Thinking 2.9
Reading Comprehension 2.8
Persuasion 2.8
Judgment and Decision Making 2.8
Knowledge Areas
Customer and Personal Service 3.9
English Language 3.6
Sales and Marketing 3.3
Food Production 2.6
Mathematics 2.6
Administration and Management 2.5
Psychology 2.4
Education and Training 2.4
Computers and Electronics 2.4
Sociology and Anthropology 2.3
Key Tasks
- ▸ Collect payments from customers.
- ▸ Check patrons' identification to ensure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages.
- ▸ Write patrons' food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff.
- ▸ Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals, and take action to correct any problems.
- ▸ Take orders from patrons for food or beverages.
- ▸ Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes.
- ▸ Remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters, and take them to kitchen for cleaning.
- ▸ Clean tables or counters after patrons have finished dining.
- ▸ Serve food or beverages to patrons, and prepare or serve specialty dishes at tables as required.
- ▸ Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping and mopping floors, vacuuming carpet, tidying up server station, taking out trash, or checking and cleaning bathroom.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$18,100
25th Percentile
$27,750
Median
$35,230
75th Percentile
$47,110
90th Percentile
$64,720
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 54 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $62,390 | +77% above national |
| 2 | Vermont | $59,140 | +68% above national |
| 3 | Washington | $56,130 | +59% above national |
| 4 | Oregon | $48,410 | +37% above national |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $47,850 | +36% above national |
| 6 | New York | $47,020 | +33% above national |
| 7 | New Jersey | $44,960 | +28% above national |
| 8 | Colorado | $44,860 | +27% above national |
| 9 | Virginia | $44,760 | +27% above national |
| 10 | Arizona | $43,950 | +25% above national |
| 11 | Maine | $43,370 | +23% above national |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $38,460 | +9% above national |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $38,430 | +9% above national |
| 14 | Connecticut | $37,770 | +7% above national |
| 15 | Michigan | $37,760 | +7% above national |
| 16 | New Mexico | $36,920 | +5% above national |
| 17 | Delaware | $36,880 | +5% above national |
| 18 | Maryland | $36,750 | +4% above national |
| 19 | Ohio | $36,700 | +4% above national |
| 20 | Virgin Islands | $36,340 | +3% above national |
| 21 | Florida | $36,150 | +3% above national |
| 22 | Kansas | $36,120 | +3% above national |
| 23 | California | $36,080 | +2% above national |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $35,420 | +1% above national |
| 25 | West Virginia | $35,380 | same as national |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $34,690 | 2% below national |
| 27 | Nebraska | $33,770 | 4% below national |
| 28 | North Carolina | $32,150 | 9% below national |
| 29 | Illinois | $31,200 | 11% below national |
| 30 | Utah | $31,150 | 12% below national |
| 31 | North Dakota | $30,890 | 12% below national |
| 32 | Idaho | $30,050 | 15% below national |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $29,670 | 16% below national |
| 34 | Kentucky | $29,660 | 16% below national |
| 35 | Missouri | $29,400 | 17% below national |
| 36 | South Dakota | $28,990 | 18% below national |
| 37 | Indiana | $28,480 | 19% below national |
| 38 | Tennessee | $27,760 | 21% below national |
| 39 | Alabama | $26,840 | 24% below national |
| 40 | Nevada | $26,410 | 25% below national |
| 41 | Alaska | $26,310 | 25% below national |
| 42 | Minnesota | $25,470 | 28% below national |
| 43 | Arkansas | $24,680 | 30% below national |
| 44 | Wyoming | $23,920 | 32% below national |
| 45 | Montana | $23,370 | 34% below national |
| 46 | Texas | $23,240 | 34% below national |
| 47 | Puerto Rico | $22,790 | 35% below national |
| 48 | Mississippi | $21,370 | 39% below national |
| 49 | Iowa | $21,000 | 40% below national |
| 50 | Guam | $20,320 | 42% below national |
| 51 | Georgia | $18,700 | 47% below national |
| 52 | South Carolina | $18,370 | 48% below national |
| 53 | Oklahoma | $17,910 | 49% below national |
| 54 | Louisiana | $15,080 | 57% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 527 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $82,550 | +134% above national |
| 2 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $63,690 | +81% above national |
| 3 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $61,620 | +75% above national |
| 4 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $60,250 | +71% above national |
| 5 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $60,110 | +71% above national |
| 6 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $57,280 | +63% above national |
| 7 | Walla Walla, WA | $56,730 | +61% above national |
| 8 | Bellingham, WA | $56,700 | +61% above national |
| 9 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $55,270 | +57% above national |
| 10 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $54,870 | +56% above national |
| 11 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $54,780 | +55% above national |
| 12 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $53,060 | +51% above national |
| 13 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $53,000 | +50% above national |
| 14 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $51,460 | +46% above national |
| 15 | Bend, OR | $50,480 | +43% above national |
| 16 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $50,460 | +43% above national |
| 17 | Medford, OR | $50,440 | +43% above national |
| 18 | Boulder, CO | $49,870 | +42% above national |
| 19 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $49,820 | +41% above national |
| 20 | Yakima, WA | $49,060 | +39% above national |
| 21 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $48,980 | +39% above national |
| 22 | Grants Pass, OR | $48,950 | +39% above national |
| 23 | Salem, OR | $48,720 | +38% above national |
| 24 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $48,560 | +38% above national |
| 25 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $48,090 | +37% above national |
| 26 | Syracuse, NY | $47,640 | +35% above national |
| 27 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $47,610 | +35% above national |
| 28 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $47,530 | +35% above national |
| 29 | Albany, OR | $47,440 | +35% above national |
| 30 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $47,410 | +35% above national |
| 31 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $47,360 | +34% above national |
| 32 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $46,950 | +33% above national |
| 33 | Santa Fe, NM | $46,640 | +32% above national |
| 34 | Binghamton, NY | $46,600 | +32% above national |
| 35 | Corvallis, OR | $46,600 | +32% above national |
| 36 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $46,580 | +32% above national |
| 37 | Greeley, CO | $46,480 | +32% above national |
| 38 | Kingston, NY | $46,440 | +32% above national |
| 39 | Colorado Springs, CO | $46,230 | +31% above national |
| 40 | Elmira, NY | $46,160 | +31% above national |
| 41 | Ithaca, NY | $46,090 | +31% above national |
| 42 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $46,040 | +31% above national |
| 43 | Utica-Rome, NY | $45,950 | +30% above national |
| 44 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $45,730 | +30% above national |
| 45 | Bangor, ME | $45,610 | +29% above national |
| 46 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $45,600 | +29% above national |
| 47 | Pueblo, CO | $45,500 | +29% above national |
| 48 | Rochester, NY | $45,310 | +29% above national |
| 49 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $44,920 | +28% above national |
| 50 | Harrisonburg, VA | $44,760 | +27% above national |
| 51 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $44,070 | +25% above national |
| 52 | Charlottesville, VA | $44,030 | +25% above national |
| 53 | Flint, MI | $44,030 | +25% above national |
| 54 | Glens Falls, NY | $43,900 | +25% above national |
| 55 | Grand Junction, CO | $43,730 | +24% above national |
| 56 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $43,600 | +24% above national |
| 57 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $43,130 | +22% above national |
| 58 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $42,930 | +22% above national |
| 59 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $42,930 | +22% above national |
| 60 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $42,900 | +22% above national |
| 61 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $41,920 | +19% above national |
| 62 | Traverse City, MI | $41,380 | +17% above national |
| 63 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $40,680 | +15% above national |
| 64 | Bay City, MI | $40,500 | +15% above national |
| 65 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $40,330 | +14% above national |
| 66 | Ann Arbor, MI | $40,230 | +14% above national |
| 67 | Jackson, MI | $39,920 | +13% above national |
| 68 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $39,880 | +13% above national |
| 69 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $39,710 | +13% above national |
| 70 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $39,650 | +13% above national |
| 71 | Saginaw, MI | $39,430 | +12% above national |
| 72 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $39,270 | +11% above national |
| 73 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $39,020 | +11% above national |
| 74 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $38,860 | +10% above national |
| 75 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $38,820 | +10% above national |
| 76 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $38,820 | +10% above national |
| 77 | Monroe, MI | $38,780 | +10% above national |
| 78 | Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $38,700 | +10% above national |
| 79 | Las Cruces, NM | $38,670 | +10% above national |
| 80 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $38,590 | +10% above national |
| 81 | Richmond, VA | $38,470 | +9% above national |
| 82 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $38,430 | +9% above national |
| 83 | Barnstable Town, MA | $38,380 | +9% above national |
| 84 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $38,210 | +8% above national |
| 85 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $38,200 | +8% above national |
| 86 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $38,160 | +8% above national |
| 87 | Niles, MI | $38,130 | +8% above national |
| 88 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $38,070 | +8% above national |
| 89 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $38,070 | +8% above national |
| 90 | Albuquerque, NM | $38,050 | +8% above national |
| 91 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $37,910 | +8% above national |
| 92 | New Haven, CT | $37,900 | +8% above national |
| 93 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $37,880 | +8% above national |
| 94 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $37,760 | +7% above national |
| 95 | Midland, MI | $37,750 | +7% above national |
| 96 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $37,710 | +7% above national |
| 97 | Winchester, VA-WV | $37,680 | +7% above national |
| 98 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $37,670 | +7% above national |
| 99 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $37,550 | +7% above national |
| 100 | Columbus, OH | $37,490 | +6% above national |
| 101 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $37,490 | +6% above national |
| 102 | Roanoke, VA | $37,380 | +6% above national |
| 103 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $37,370 | +6% above national |
| 104 | Wichita, KS | $37,300 | +6% above national |
| 105 | Lawrence, KS | $37,230 | +6% above national |
| 106 | Farmington, NM | $37,210 | +6% above national |
| 107 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $37,200 | +6% above national |
| 108 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $37,140 | +5% above national |
| 109 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $37,140 | +5% above national |
| 110 | Napa, CA | $37,130 | +5% above national |
| 111 | Flagstaff, AZ | $37,080 | +5% above national |
| 112 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $37,070 | +5% above national |
| 113 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $37,050 | +5% above national |
| 114 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $37,050 | +5% above national |
| 115 | Charleston, WV | $36,900 | +5% above national |
| 116 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $36,900 | +5% above national |
| 117 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $36,900 | +5% above national |
| 118 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $36,890 | +5% above national |
| 119 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $36,870 | +5% above national |
| 120 | Worcester, MA | $36,840 | +5% above national |
| 121 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $36,840 | +5% above national |
| 122 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $36,830 | +5% above national |
| 123 | Vineland, NJ | $36,800 | +4% above national |
| 124 | Lynchburg, VA | $36,780 | +4% above national |
| 125 | Lima, OH | $36,720 | +4% above national |
| 126 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $36,670 | +4% above national |
| 127 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $36,670 | +4% above national |
| 128 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $36,660 | +4% above national |
| 129 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $36,660 | +4% above national |
| 130 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $36,650 | +4% above national |
| 131 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,630 | +4% above national |
| 132 | Vallejo, CA | $36,610 | +4% above national |
| 133 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $36,610 | +4% above national |
| 134 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $36,600 | +4% above national |
| 135 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $36,570 | +4% above national |
| 136 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,530 | +4% above national |
| 137 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $36,530 | +4% above national |
| 138 | Tucson, AZ | $36,490 | +4% above national |
| 139 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $36,430 | +3% above national |
| 140 | Battle Creek, MI | $36,370 | +3% above national |
| 141 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $36,370 | +3% above national |
| 142 | Punta Gorda, FL | $36,360 | +3% above national |
| 143 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $36,340 | +3% above national |
| 144 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $36,300 | +3% above national |
| 145 | Cleveland, OH | $36,260 | +3% above national |
| 146 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $36,250 | +3% above national |
| 147 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $36,240 | +3% above national |
| 148 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $36,230 | +3% above national |
| 149 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $36,210 | +3% above national |
| 150 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $36,170 | +3% above national |
| 151 | Springfield, MA | $36,170 | +3% above national |
| 152 | Akron, OH | $36,150 | +3% above national |
| 153 | Toledo, OH | $36,140 | +3% above national |
| 154 | Yuma, AZ | $36,120 | +3% above national |
| 155 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $36,080 | +2% above national |
| 156 | Lincoln, NE | $36,080 | +2% above national |
| 157 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $36,070 | +2% above national |
| 158 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $36,060 | +2% above national |
| 159 | Springfield, OH | $36,060 | +2% above national |
| 160 | Dover, DE | $36,030 | +2% above national |
| 161 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $35,960 | +2% above national |
| 162 | Pittsfield, MA | $35,950 | +2% above national |
| 163 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $35,930 | +2% above national |
| 164 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $35,850 | +2% above national |
| 165 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $35,850 | +2% above national |
| 166 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $35,840 | +2% above national |
| 167 | Boise City, ID | $35,830 | +2% above national |
| 168 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $35,780 | +2% above national |
| 169 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $35,750 | +1% above national |
| 170 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $35,620 | +1% above national |
| 171 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $35,620 | +1% above national |
| 172 | Lexington Park, MD | $35,550 | +1% above national |
| 173 | Salinas, CA | $35,540 | +1% above national |
| 174 | Morgantown, WV | $35,480 | +1% above national |
| 175 | Pittsburgh, PA | $35,470 | +1% above national |
| 176 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $35,440 | +1% above national |
| 177 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $35,410 | +1% above national |
| 178 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $35,410 | +1% above national |
| 179 | Gainesville, FL | $35,400 | same as national |
| 180 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $35,340 | same as national |
| 181 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $35,290 | same as national |
| 182 | State College, PA | $35,280 | same as national |
| 183 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $35,270 | same as national |
| 184 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $35,270 | same as national |
| 185 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $35,260 | same as national |
| 186 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $35,260 | same as national |
| 187 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $35,250 | same as national |
| 188 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $35,230 | same as national |
| 189 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $35,230 | same as national |
| 190 | Mansfield, OH | $35,170 | same as national |
| 191 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $35,160 | same as national |
| 192 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $35,130 | same as national |
| 193 | Topeka, KS | $35,090 | same as national |
| 194 | Salisbury, MD | $35,080 | same as national |
| 195 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $35,080 | same as national |
| 196 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $35,070 | same as national |
| 197 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $34,990 | 1% below national |
| 198 | Sebring, FL | $34,960 | 1% below national |
| 199 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $34,950 | 1% below national |
| 200 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $34,920 | 1% below national |
| 201 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $34,910 | 1% below national |
| 202 | Modesto, CA | $34,910 | 1% below national |
| 203 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $34,910 | 1% below national |
| 204 | Ocala, FL | $34,890 | 1% below national |
| 205 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $34,860 | 1% below national |
| 206 | Tallahassee, FL | $34,850 | 1% below national |
| 207 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $34,830 | 1% below national |
| 208 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $34,800 | 1% below national |
| 209 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $34,730 | 1% below national |
| 210 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $34,630 | 2% below national |
| 211 | Sandusky, OH | $34,610 | 2% below national |
| 212 | Ogden, UT | $34,570 | 2% below national |
| 213 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $34,470 | 2% below national |
| 214 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $34,460 | 2% below national |
| 215 | Asheville, NC | $34,450 | 2% below national |
| 216 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $34,320 | 3% below national |
| 217 | Chico, CA | $34,320 | 3% below national |
| 218 | El Centro, CA | $34,320 | 3% below national |
| 219 | Fresno, CA | $34,320 | 3% below national |
| 220 | Merced, CA | $34,320 | 3% below national |
| 221 | Redding, CA | $34,320 | 3% below national |
| 222 | Visalia, CA | $34,320 | 3% below national |
| 223 | Yuba City, CA | $34,320 | 3% below national |
| 224 | Omaha, NE-IA | $34,290 | 3% below national |
| 225 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $34,260 | 3% below national |
| 226 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $34,080 | 3% below national |
| 227 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $34,020 | 3% below national |
| 228 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $33,910 | 4% below national |
| 229 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $33,800 | 4% below national |
| 230 | York-Hanover, PA | $33,750 | 4% below national |
| 231 | Beckley, WV | $33,650 | 4% below national |
| 232 | Manhattan, KS | $33,140 | 6% below national |
| 233 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $32,320 | 8% below national |
| 234 | Bismarck, ND | $32,310 | 8% below national |
| 235 | Lancaster, PA | $32,190 | 9% below national |
| 236 | Gettysburg, PA | $31,390 | 11% below national |
| 237 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $31,300 | 11% below national |
| 238 | Bloomington, IL | $31,200 | 11% below national |
| 239 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $31,200 | 11% below national |
| 240 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $31,200 | 11% below national |
| 241 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 11% below national |
| 242 | Decatur, IL | $31,200 | 11% below national |
| 243 | Kankakee, IL | $31,200 | 11% below national |
| 244 | Peoria, IL | $31,200 | 11% below national |
| 245 | Rockford, IL | $31,200 | 11% below national |
| 246 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $31,200 | 11% below national |
| 247 | Springfield, IL | $31,200 | 11% below national |
| 248 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31,200 | 11% below national |
| 249 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31,200 | 11% below national |
| 250 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31,200 | 11% below national |
| 251 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31,200 | 11% below national |
| 252 | Minot, ND | $30,930 | 12% below national |
| 253 | Madison, WI | $30,910 | 12% below national |
| 254 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $30,840 | 12% below national |
| 255 | Reading, PA | $30,760 | 13% below national |
| 256 | Idaho Falls, ID | $30,740 | 13% below national |
| 257 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $30,740 | 13% below national |
| 258 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $30,690 | 13% below national |
| 259 | Wilmington, NC | $30,610 | 13% below national |
| 260 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $30,490 | 13% below national |
| 261 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $30,490 | 13% below national |
| 262 | Appleton, WI | $30,370 | 14% below national |
| 263 | Logan, UT-ID | $30,350 | 14% below national |
| 264 | Fargo, ND-MN | $30,330 | 14% below national |
| 265 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $30,330 | 14% below national |
| 266 | Lebanon, PA | $30,300 | 14% below national |
| 267 | Jefferson City, MO | $30,280 | 14% below national |
| 268 | Elizabethtown, KY | $30,270 | 14% below national |
| 269 | St. George, UT | $30,260 | 14% below national |
| 270 | Pocatello, ID | $30,200 | 14% below national |
| 271 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $30,180 | 14% below national |
| 272 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $30,170 | 14% below national |
| 273 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $30,060 | 15% below national |
| 274 | Chambersburg, PA | $30,030 | 15% below national |
| 275 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $30,020 | 15% below national |
| 276 | Sheboygan, WI | $29,980 | 15% below national |
| 277 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $29,920 | 15% below national |
| 278 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $29,850 | 15% below national |
| 279 | Grand Island, NE | $29,840 | 15% below national |
| 280 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $29,840 | 15% below national |
| 281 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $29,800 | 15% below national |
| 282 | Owensboro, KY | $29,790 | 15% below national |
| 283 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $29,770 | 15% below national |
| 284 | Eau Claire, WI | $29,720 | 16% below national |
| 285 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $29,630 | 16% below national |
| 286 | Green Bay, WI | $29,610 | 16% below national |
| 287 | Winston-Salem, NC | $29,550 | 16% below national |
| 288 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $29,530 | 16% below national |
| 289 | Fayetteville, NC | $29,520 | 16% below national |
| 290 | Kenosha, WI | $29,480 | 16% below national |
| 291 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $29,390 | 17% below national |
| 292 | Springfield, MO | $29,350 | 17% below national |
| 293 | Burlington, NC | $29,330 | 17% below national |
| 294 | Williamsport, PA | $29,320 | 17% below national |
| 295 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $29,310 | 17% below national |
| 296 | Paducah, KY-IL | $29,280 | 17% below national |
| 297 | Columbia, MO | $29,250 | 17% below national |
| 298 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $29,160 | 17% below national |
| 299 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $29,160 | 17% below national |
| 300 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $29,140 | 17% below national |
| 301 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $29,080 | 17% below national |
| 302 | Wausau, WI | $29,060 | 18% below national |
| 303 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $29,050 | 18% below national |
| 304 | Rapid City, SD | $29,020 | 18% below national |
| 305 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $28,990 | 18% below national |
| 306 | Fond du Lac, WI | $28,980 | 18% below national |
| 307 | Jacksonville, NC | $28,870 | 18% below national |
| 308 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $28,840 | 18% below national |
| 309 | Bowling Green, KY | $28,810 | 18% below national |
| 310 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $28,770 | 18% below national |
| 311 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $28,740 | 18% below national |
| 312 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $28,710 | 19% below national |
| 313 | Twin Falls, ID | $28,710 | 19% below national |
| 314 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $28,690 | 19% below national |
| 315 | Greenville, NC | $28,680 | 19% below national |
| 316 | Fort Wayne, IN | $28,650 | 19% below national |
| 317 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $28,650 | 19% below national |
| 318 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $28,610 | 19% below national |
| 319 | Joplin, MO-KS | $28,600 | 19% below national |
| 320 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $28,600 | 19% below national |
| 321 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $28,600 | 19% below national |
| 322 | Erie, PA | $28,590 | 19% below national |
| 323 | Evansville, IN | $28,550 | 19% below national |
| 324 | Bloomington, IN | $28,540 | 19% below national |
| 325 | Goldsboro, NC | $28,530 | 19% below national |
| 326 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $28,500 | 19% below national |
| 327 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $28,480 | 19% below national |
| 328 | Kokomo, IN | $28,420 | 19% below national |
| 329 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $28,420 | 19% below national |
| 330 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $28,400 | 19% below national |
| 331 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $28,390 | 19% below national |
| 332 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $28,380 | 19% below national |
| 333 | Johnstown, PA | $28,280 | 20% below national |
| 334 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $28,260 | 20% below national |
| 335 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $28,210 | 20% below national |
| 336 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $28,200 | 20% below national |
| 337 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $28,140 | 20% below national |
| 338 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $28,110 | 20% below national |
| 339 | Knoxville, TN | $28,100 | 20% below national |
| 340 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $28,070 | 20% below national |
| 341 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $28,060 | 20% below national |
| 342 | Huntsville, AL | $27,990 | 21% below national |
| 343 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $27,820 | 21% below national |
| 344 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $27,730 | 21% below national |
| 345 | Birmingham, AL | $27,670 | 21% below national |
| 346 | Altoona, PA | $27,630 | 22% below national |
| 347 | Morristown, TN | $27,370 | 22% below national |
| 348 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $27,260 | 23% below national |
| 349 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $27,110 | 23% below national |
| 350 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $27,080 | 23% below national |
| 351 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $27,030 | 23% below national |
| 352 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $27,030 | 23% below national |
| 353 | Decatur, AL | $27,010 | 23% below national |
| 354 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $26,930 | 24% below national |
| 355 | Rocky Mount, NC | $26,900 | 24% below national |
| 356 | Casper, WY | $26,870 | 24% below national |
| 357 | Mobile, AL | $26,860 | 24% below national |
| 358 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $26,820 | 24% below national |
| 359 | Cheyenne, WY | $26,790 | 24% below national |
| 360 | Carson City, NV | $26,670 | 24% below national |
| 361 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $26,530 | 25% below national |
| 362 | Terre Haute, IN | $26,520 | 25% below national |
| 363 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $26,470 | 25% below national |
| 364 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $26,430 | 25% below national |
| 365 | Bozeman, MT | $26,380 | 25% below national |
| 366 | Montgomery, AL | $26,360 | 25% below national |
| 367 | Columbus, IN | $26,340 | 25% below national |
| 368 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $26,330 | 25% below national |
| 369 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $26,290 | 25% below national |
| 370 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $26,210 | 26% below national |
| 371 | Anchorage, AK | $26,080 | 26% below national |
| 372 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $25,990 | 26% below national |
| 373 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $25,920 | 26% below national |
| 374 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $25,720 | 27% below national |
| 375 | Reno, NV | $25,700 | 27% below national |
| 376 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $25,550 | 27% below national |
| 377 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $25,030 | 29% below national |
| 378 | Jonesboro, AR | $24,680 | 30% below national |
| 379 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $24,660 | 30% below national |
| 380 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $24,640 | 30% below national |
| 381 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $24,640 | 30% below national |
| 382 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $24,610 | 30% below national |
| 383 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $24,550 | 30% below national |
| 384 | Dothan, AL | $24,520 | 30% below national |
| 385 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $24,360 | 31% below national |
| 386 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $24,250 | 31% below national |
| 387 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $24,240 | 31% below national |
| 388 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $24,160 | 31% below national |
| 389 | Rochester, MN | $24,060 | 32% below national |
| 390 | Gadsden, AL | $24,030 | 32% below national |
| 391 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $23,900 | 32% below national |
| 392 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $23,840 | 32% below national |
| 393 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $23,730 | 33% below national |
| 394 | Muncie, IN | $23,720 | 33% below national |
| 395 | Midland, TX | $23,700 | 33% below national |
| 396 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $23,680 | 33% below national |
| 397 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $23,620 | 33% below national |
| 398 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $23,590 | 33% below national |
| 399 | Hot Springs, AR | $23,550 | 33% below national |
| 400 | St. Cloud, MN | $23,520 | 33% below national |
| 401 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $23,490 | 33% below national |
| 402 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $23,490 | 33% below national |
| 403 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $23,480 | 33% below national |
| 404 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $23,460 | 33% below national |
| 405 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $23,460 | 33% below national |
| 406 | Mankato, MN | $23,330 | 34% below national |
| 407 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $23,330 | 34% below national |
| 408 | Cleveland, TN | $23,300 | 34% below national |
| 409 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $23,250 | 34% below national |
| 410 | Missoula, MT | $23,210 | 34% below national |
| 411 | Duluth, MN-WI | $23,150 | 34% below national |
| 412 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $23,150 | 34% below national |
| 413 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $23,120 | 34% below national |
| 414 | Helena, MT | $23,020 | 35% below national |
| 415 | Waco, TX | $23,010 | 35% below national |
| 416 | Wichita Falls, TX | $22,980 | 35% below national |
| 417 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $22,950 | 35% below national |
| 418 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $22,950 | 35% below national |
| 419 | Billings, MT | $22,940 | 35% below national |
| 420 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $22,910 | 35% below national |
| 421 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $22,880 | 35% below national |
| 422 | Corpus Christi, TX | $22,820 | 35% below national |
| 423 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $22,800 | 35% below national |
| 424 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $22,780 | 35% below national |
| 425 | Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $22,760 | 35% below national |
| 426 | Amarillo, TX | $22,710 | 36% below national |
| 427 | Ames, IA | $22,710 | 36% below national |
| 428 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $22,600 | 36% below national |
| 429 | Odessa, TX | $22,600 | 36% below national |
| 430 | Lubbock, TX | $22,560 | 36% below national |
| 431 | Abilene, TX | $22,520 | 36% below national |
| 432 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $22,400 | 36% below national |
| 433 | Tyler, TX | $22,370 | 37% below national |
| 434 | Victoria, TX | $22,330 | 37% below national |
| 435 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $22,330 | 37% below national |
| 436 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $22,290 | 37% below national |
| 437 | Great Falls, MT | $22,270 | 37% below national |
| 438 | Ponce, PR | $22,260 | 37% below national |
| 439 | Longview, TX | $22,240 | 37% below national |
| 440 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $22,150 | 37% below national |
| 441 | Arecibo, PR | $22,140 | 37% below national |
| 442 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $22,140 | 37% below national |
| 443 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $22,120 | 37% below national |
| 444 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $22,080 | 37% below national |
| 445 | Johnson City, TN | $22,070 | 37% below national |
| 446 | Iowa City, IA | $22,030 | 37% below national |
| 447 | Laredo, TX | $22,020 | 37% below national |
| 448 | El Paso, TX | $21,870 | 38% below national |
| 449 | Aguadilla, PR | $21,840 | 38% below national |
| 450 | Guayama, PR | $21,840 | 38% below national |
| 451 | Mayaguez, PR | $21,840 | 38% below national |
| 452 | Puerto Rico nonmetropolitan area | $21,840 | 38% below national |
| 453 | Hattiesburg, MS | $21,830 | 38% below national |
| 454 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $21,790 | 38% below national |
| 455 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $21,670 | 38% below national |
| 456 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $21,490 | 39% below national |
| 457 | Jackson, MS | $21,440 | 39% below national |
| 458 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $21,270 | 40% below national |
| 459 | San Angelo, TX | $21,230 | 40% below national |
| 460 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $21,230 | 40% below national |
| 461 | Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $21,230 | 40% below national |
| 462 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $21,160 | 40% below national |
| 463 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $21,150 | 40% below national |
| 464 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $21,090 | 40% below national |
| 465 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $21,010 | 40% below national |
| 466 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $20,990 | 40% below national |
| 467 | Rome, GA | $20,980 | 40% below national |
| 468 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $20,980 | 40% below national |
| 469 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $20,950 | 41% below national |
| 470 | Savannah, GA | $20,830 | 41% below national |
| 471 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $20,810 | 41% below national |
| 472 | Columbus, GA-AL | $20,800 | 41% below national |
| 473 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $20,650 | 41% below national |
| 474 | Jackson, TN | $20,490 | 42% below national |
| 475 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $20,470 | 42% below national |
| 476 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $20,410 | 42% below national |
| 477 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $20,170 | 43% below national |
| 478 | Dubuque, IA | $20,060 | 43% below national |
| 479 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $19,950 | 43% below national |
| 480 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $19,830 | 44% below national |
| 481 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $19,730 | 44% below national |
| 482 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $19,620 | 44% below national |
| 483 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $19,340 | 45% below national |
| 484 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $19,100 | 46% below national |
| 485 | Warner Robins, GA | $19,070 | 46% below national |
| 486 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $18,950 | 46% below national |
| 487 | Valdosta, GA | $18,510 | 47% below national |
| 488 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $18,460 | 48% below national |
| 489 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $18,390 | 48% below national |
| 490 | Spartanburg, SC | $18,370 | 48% below national |
| 491 | Tulsa, OK | $18,350 | 48% below national |
| 492 | Albany, GA | $18,330 | 48% below national |
| 493 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $18,250 | 48% below national |
| 494 | Oklahoma City, OK | $18,200 | 48% below national |
| 495 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $18,150 | 48% below national |
| 496 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $18,080 | 49% below national |
| 497 | Gainesville, GA | $17,980 | 49% below national |
| 498 | Dalton, GA | $17,930 | 49% below national |
| 499 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $17,880 | 49% below national |
| 500 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $17,860 | 49% below national |
| 501 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $17,830 | 49% below national |
| 502 | Columbia, SC | $17,810 | 49% below national |
| 503 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $17,700 | 50% below national |
| 504 | Hinesville, GA | $17,640 | 50% below national |
| 505 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $17,520 | 50% below national |
| 506 | Florence, SC | $17,460 | 50% below national |
| 507 | Sumter, SC | $17,440 | 50% below national |
| 508 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $17,350 | 51% below national |
| 509 | Lawton, OK | $17,150 | 51% below national |
| 510 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $17,060 | 52% below national |
| 511 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $17,020 | 52% below national |
| 512 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $16,990 | 52% below national |
| 513 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $16,810 | 52% below national |
| 514 | Enid, OK | $16,650 | 53% below national |
| 515 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $16,640 | 53% below national |
| 516 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $15,540 | 56% below national |
| 517 | Alexandria, LA | $15,080 | 57% below national |
| 518 | Baton Rouge, LA | $15,080 | 57% below national |
| 519 | Hammond, LA | $15,080 | 57% below national |
| 520 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $15,080 | 57% below national |
| 521 | Lafayette, LA | $15,080 | 57% below national |
| 522 | Lake Charles, LA | $15,080 | 57% below national |
| 523 | Monroe, LA | $15,080 | 57% below national |
| 524 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $15,080 | 57% below national |
| 525 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $15,080 | 57% below national |
| 526 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $15,080 | 57% below national |
| 527 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $15,080 | 57% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 35 (food preparation and serving) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Waiters and Waitresses make? ▼
The median annual salary for Waiters and Waitresses is $35,230 ($16.94/hour). The salary range spans from $18,100 at the 10th percentile to $64,720 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Waiters and Waitresses the most? ▼
Hawaii pays the highest median salary for Waiters and Waitresses at $62,390/year, which is +77% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Waiters and Waitresses? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Waiters and Waitresses is No formal educational credential. On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Waiters and Waitresses? ▼
Waiters and Waitresses has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.6 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 2.4 per 100 workers.
Is Waiters and Waitresses a good career? ▼
Employment for Waiters and Waitresses is projected to decline 0.7% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 456,700 openings are projected each year.
How does Waiters and Waitresses pay vary by state? ▼
Waiters and Waitresses salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $62,390/year, while Guam pays the least at $20,320/year. BLS data covers 54 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Waiters and Waitresses? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Waiters and Waitresses is Kahului-Wailuku, HI at $82,550/year. BLS reports wage data for 527 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Waiters and Waitresses pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $47,110/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Hawaii leads at $62,390/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.