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Occupational Employment Statistics
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Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2019

35-3031 Waiters and Waitresses

Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment. Excludes “Fast Food and Counter Workers” (35-3023).

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)
2,579,020 0.5 % $12.88 $26,800 0.5 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $8.37 $9.11 $11.00 $14.24 $20.65
Annual Wage (2) $17,420 $18,950 $22,890 $29,620 $42,950

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)
Restaurants and Other Eating Places 2,099,460 19.41 $12.70 $26,410
Traveler Accommodation 156,410 7.62 $14.84 $30,860
Special Food Services 71,590 9.75 $15.04 $31,290
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries 69,890 5.18 $12.49 $25,970
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) 62,980 15.82 $12.12 $25,220

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Restaurants and Other Eating Places 2,099,460 19.41 $12.70 $26,410
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) 62,980 15.82 $12.12 $25,220
Special Food Services 71,590 9.75 $15.04 $31,290
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water 1,360 8.02 $14.18 $29,500
Traveler Accommodation 156,410 7.62 $14.84 $30,860

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services 160 0.08 $20.25 $42,120
Grantmaking and Giving Services 110 0.08 $17.09 $35,550
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 170 (7) $15.18 $31,580
Clothing Stores 40 (7) $15.18 $31,580
Special Food Services 71,590 9.75 $15.04 $31,290

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 289,160 16.64 0.95 $15.55 $32,350
Texas 219,180 17.63 1.00 $10.61 $22,070
Florida 208,360 23.69 1.35 $12.66 $26,340
New York 160,470 16.85 0.96 $17.86 $37,150
Pennsylvania 96,210 16.30 0.93 $12.20 $25,380




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)
Hawaii 19,500 30.68 1.75 $26.54 $55,200
Nevada 37,300 26.78 1.53 $11.43 $23,770
Florida 208,360 23.69 1.35 $12.66 $26,340
Montana 10,050 21.48 1.22 $10.53 $21,900
Maine 12,970 21.22 1.21 $14.02 $29,170




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Hawaii 19,500 30.68 1.75 $26.54 $55,200
District of Columbia 10,940 15.12 0.86 $23.83 $49,570
Washington 55,090 16.60 0.95 $18.63 $38,750
New York 160,470 16.85 0.96 $17.86 $37,150
Arizona 50,880 17.75 1.01 $17.57 $36,550





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-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 157,350 16.30 0.93 $17.29 $35,970
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 102,290 16.39 0.93 $15.55 $32,350
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 69,600 14.88 0.85 $11.50 $23,910
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 63,680 17.41 0.99 $9.99 $20,770
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 55,590 18.21 1.04 $11.83 $24,610
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 54,390 19.82 1.13 $10.66 $22,170
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 53,220 20.14 1.15 $12.55 $26,100
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 52,090 18.62 1.06 $15.91 $33,100
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 51,360 16.15 0.92 $14.84 $30,870
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 45,100 15.68 0.89 $12.30 $25,580