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Occupational Employment Statistics
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Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2018

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)
2,582,410 0.5 % $12.42 $25,830 0.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $8.33 $9.05 $10.47 $13.60 $19.61
Annual Wage (2) $17,330 $18,820 $21,780 $28,280 $40,780

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 2,102,220 19.66 $12.23 $25,440
Traveler Accommodation 156,740 7.84 $14.29 $29,730
Special Food Services 74,570 10.39 $14.34 $29,830
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries 70,640 5.40 $12.09 $25,150
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) 63,390 16.20 $11.61 $24,160

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 2,102,220 19.66 $12.23 $25,440
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) 63,390 16.20 $11.61 $24,160
Special Food Services 74,570 10.39 $14.34 $29,830
Traveler Accommodation 156,740 7.84 $14.29 $29,730
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water 900 5.52 $15.11 $31,420

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 170 0.08 $21.96 $45,680
Grantmaking and Giving Services 70 0.05 $16.95 $35,260
Management of Companies and Enterprises 1,020 0.04 $15.81 $32,890
Employment Services 23,290 0.64 $15.13 $31,470
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water 900 5.52 $15.11 $31,420

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 286,930 16.87 0.95 $14.55 $30,250
Texas 216,670 17.89 1.00 $11.31 $23,520
Florida 211,860 24.61 1.38 $12.56 $26,120
New York 167,250 17.82 1.00 $16.57 $34,460
Pennsylvania 98,970 16.92 0.95 $11.95 $24,850




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 19,130 29.81 1.67 $25.05 $52,110
Nevada 37,400 27.76 1.56 $12.01 $24,980
Florida 211,860 24.61 1.38 $12.56 $26,120
Montana 10,260 22.15 1.24 $10.09 $20,990
Maine 12,890 21.29 1.19 $13.25 $27,550




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Hawaii 19,130 29.81 1.67 $25.05 $52,110
District of Columbia 9,630 13.51 0.76 $23.14 $48,120
Washington 54,770 16.80 0.94 $17.27 $35,930
Vermont 5,590 18.33 1.03 $16.62 $34,560
New York 167,250 17.82 1.00 $16.57 $34,460





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 157,440 16.58 0.93 $16.38 $34,070
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 105,750 17.28 0.97 $13.70 $28,490
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 65,800 14.18 0.79 $11.23 $23,360
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 62,930 17.64 0.99 $10.98 $22,840
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 57,140 22.06 1.24 $12.62 $26,240
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 56,850 19.06 1.07 $12.57 $26,150
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 52,160 19.44 1.09 $9.82 $20,420
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 51,190 18.56 1.04 $15.53 $32,310
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 51,090 16.30 0.91 $14.09 $29,310
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 46,060 16.17 0.91 $12.14 $25,250