Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2010

35-3031 Waiters and Waitresses

Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment. Excludes "Counter Attendants, Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop" (35-3022).

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
2,244,480 0.5 % $9.99 $20,790 0.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $7.54 $7.91 $8.81 $10.65 $14.41
Annual Wage (2) $15,690 $16,440 $18,330 $22,150 $29,980

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Full-Service Restaurants 1,718,970 38.52 $9.90 $20,600
Traveler Accommodation 123,700 7.40 $11.64 $24,200
Limited-Service Eating Places 122,130 3.04 $8.98 $18,680
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries 65,240 6.12 $10.78 $22,410
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) 64,800 18.80 $9.32 $19,380

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Full-Service Restaurants 1,718,970 38.52 $9.90 $20,600
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) 64,800 18.80 $9.32 $19,380
Special Food Services 51,180 9.30 $11.08 $23,040
Traveler Accommodation 123,700 7.40 $11.64 $24,200
Gambling Industries 8,090 6.26 $10.19 $21,190

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Grantmaking and Giving Services (8) (8) $14.51 $30,170
Religious Organizations 150 0.08 $13.95 $29,010
Clothing Stores 250 0.02 $11.82 $24,590
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (8) (8) $11.67 $24,270
Traveler Accommodation 123,700 7.40 $11.64 $24,200

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 231,710 16.55 0.94 $9.94 $20,670
Texas 188,600 18.69 1.06 $8.98 $18,670
Florida 172,860 24.33 1.38 $9.91 $20,610
New York 125,820 15.08 0.85 $11.91 $24,780
Ohio 89,720 18.23 1.03 $9.08 $18,890




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Nevada 35,510 31.89 1.81 $10.70 $22,260
Hawaii 14,350 25.10 1.42 $11.97 $24,890
Florida 172,860 24.33 1.38 $9.91 $20,610
North Dakota 7,350 20.65 1.17 $8.46 $17,600
Montana 8,460 19.95 1.13 $8.96 $18,650




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 8,150 12.75 0.72 $14.30 $29,750
Vermont 4,560 15.89 0.90 $13.68 $28,460
Massachusetts 54,250 17.39 0.99 $13.59 $28,270
Washington 40,580 15.07 0.85 $13.40 $27,870
Oregon 25,410 16.19 0.92 $12.75 $26,520

Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 68,890 13.83 0.78 $13.25 $27,550
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 60,510 15.85 0.90 $9.68 $20,130
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 44,730 17.91 1.01 $9.13 $18,980
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL Metropolitan Division 43,270 12.22 0.69 $10.89 $22,650
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 39,640 18.01 1.02 $9.53 $19,820
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 36,560 18.27 1.03 $9.36 $19,460
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 34,900 15.24 0.86 $11.86 $24,660
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 32,960 19.58 1.11 $11.09 $23,060
Orlando-Kissimmee, FL 30,580 31.87 1.81 $9.98 $20,760
Las Vegas-Paradise, NV 29,580 36.65 2.08 $11.06 $23,000




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ 6,680 49.31 2.79 $10.82 $22,500
Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC 5,170 48.30 2.74 $8.54 $17,760
Panama City-Lynn Haven, FL 2,840 41.79 2.37 $8.37 $17,400
Ocean City, NJ 1,500 39.79 2.25 $9.56 $19,890
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL 2,860 38.38 2.17 $9.17 $19,080
Las Vegas-Paradise, NV 29,580 36.65 2.08 $11.06 $23,000
Punta Gorda, FL 1,390 35.76 2.03 $10.36 $21,550
Naples-Marco Island, FL 3,830 35.05 1.99 $11.46 $23,840
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL 8,260 34.82 1.97 $10.39 $21,610
Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL 1,420 32.00 1.81 $10.56 $21,960