Table 1. Average wages and employment of the 10 largest occupations in food services and drinking places, May 2008

Occupation Industry Average Wage Cross-Industry Average Wage Industry employment Percent of industry employment
All Occupations* $9.84 $20.32 9,663,520 100.0%
Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food* 8.07 8.36 2,208,340 22.9
Waiters and waitresses* 9.26 9.41 2,048,200 21.2
Cooks, restaurant* 10.73 10.94 788,800 8.2
First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers* 14.39 14.81 611,810 6.3
Cooks, fast food 8.43 8.47 530,100 5.5
Food preparation workers* 8.97 9.54 458,490 4.7
Dishwashers* 8.36 8.54 418,110 4.3
Bartenders* 9.75 9.84 373,470 3.9
Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop* 8.67 8.90 348,630 3.6
Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop* 8.80 8.93 316,960 3.3
* Indicates that the difference between the industry wage and the cross-industry wage is statistically significant.

 

Last Modified Date: September 30, 2009