Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2011

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)
2,289,010 0.5 % $10.05 $20,890 0.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $7.73 $8.25 $8.93 $10.61 $14.34
Annual Wage (2) $16,070 $17,160 $18,570 $22,070 $29,820

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 1,761,250 38.69 $9.93 $20,660
Traveler Accommodation 127,350 7.49 $11.87 $24,680
Limited-Service Eating Places 120,320 2.93 $9.03 $18,790
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries 64,330 6.04 $10.81 $22,480
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) 63,540 18.31 $9.43 $19,620

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 1,761,250 38.69 $9.93 $20,660
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) 63,540 18.31 $9.43 $19,620
Special Food Services 51,710 9.05 $11.15 $23,190
Traveler Accommodation 127,350 7.49 $11.87 $24,680
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries 64,330 6.04 $10.81 $22,480

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Religious Organizations 190 0.10 $12.68 $26,380
Elementary and Secondary Schools (8) (8) $12.67 $26,350
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events 930 0.96 $11.97 $24,890
Traveler Accommodation 127,350 7.49 $11.87 $24,680
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water 780 5.86 $11.77 $24,470

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 233,330 16.62 0.93 $10.24 $21,300
Texas 194,710 18.90 1.06 $9.17 $19,070
Florida 178,000 24.89 1.39 $10.08 $20,970
New York 134,250 15.93 0.89 $11.45 $23,820
Pennsylvania 87,790 15.82 0.89 $9.98 $20,750




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 37,380 33.59 1.88 $10.68 $22,210
Florida 178,000 24.89 1.39 $10.08 $20,970
Hawaii 13,970 24.20 1.36 $11.68 $24,300
Montana 8,780 20.65 1.16 $8.94 $18,590
Arizona 48,980 20.58 1.15 $10.05 $20,890




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 7,730 11.99 0.67 $14.06 $29,240
Washington 41,160 15.13 0.85 $13.94 $28,990
Massachusetts 56,620 17.93 1.01 $13.27 $27,600
Vermont 4,550 15.66 0.88 $12.58 $26,170
Oregon 26,530 16.72 0.94 $12.37 $25,720





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 75,580 14.93 0.84 $12.32 $25,630
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 59,760 15.63 0.88 $10.20 $21,210
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 46,120 18.08 1.01 $9.04 $18,810
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 46,050 12.85 0.72 $10.68 $22,220
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 41,730 18.73 1.05 $9.63 $20,030
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 37,780 18.48 1.04 $9.75 $20,290
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 36,010 15.59 0.87 $12.11 $25,180
Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ 35,170 20.70 1.16 $10.36 $21,550
Las Vegas-Paradise, NV 31,290 38.81 2.18 $11.09 $23,070
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL 31,240 32.10 1.80 $11.28 $23,460