Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2016

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).

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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)
2,564,610	0.5 %	$11.73	$24,410	0.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile	10%	25%	50% (Median)	75%	90%
Hourly Wage	$8.22	$8.83	$9.61	$12.78	$18.49
Annual Wage (2)	$17,090	$18,360	$19,990	$26,590	$38,460

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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	2,105,830	20.47	$11.57	$24,070
Traveler Accommodation	146,370	7.62	$13.74	$28,590
Special Food Services	71,010	10.38	$12.96	$26,960
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries	69,670	5.65	$11.70	$24,330
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)	62,160	16.37	$11.27	$23,450

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	2,105,830	20.47	$11.57	$24,070
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)	62,160	16.37	$11.27	$23,450
Special Food Services	71,010	10.38	$12.96	$26,960
Traveler Accommodation	146,370	7.62	$13.74	$28,590
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries	69,670	5.65	$11.70	$24,330

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry	Employment (1)	Percent of industry employment	Hourly mean wage	Annual mean wage (2)
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water	780	5.24	$15.91	$33,090
Amusement Parks and Arcades	(8)	(8)	$14.15	$29,420
Traveler Accommodation	146,370	7.62	$13.74	$28,590
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	760	0.03	$13.43	$27,940
Other Personal Services	640	0.21	$13.33	$27,730

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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	280,100	17.54	0.96	$14.88	$30,940
Texas	219,680	18.70	1.02	$11.18	$23,250
Florida	217,790	26.49	1.45	$12.91	$26,860
New York	155,540	17.10	0.94	$14.41	$29,980
Pennsylvania	98,780	17.19	0.94	$10.62	$22,090

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	39,450	31.04	1.70	$12.26	$25,510
Florida	217,790	26.49	1.45	$12.91	$26,860
Hawaii	16,110	25.49	1.40	$17.84	$37,100
Rhode Island	10,220	21.51	1.18	$11.47	$23,850
Colorado	52,540	20.95	1.15	$11.05	$22,990

Top paying States for this occupation:

State	Employment (1)	Employment per thousand jobs	Location quotient (9)	Hourly mean wage	Annual mean wage (2)
Hawaii	16,110	25.49	1.40	$17.84	$37,100
Vermont	5,400	17.71	0.97	$15.27	$31,770
Alaska	4,260	13.17	0.72	$15.01	$31,230
Washington	48,380	15.77	0.86	$14.97	$31,140
District of Columbia	8,720	12.41	0.68	$14.89	$30,970

Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area	Employment (1)	Employment per thousand jobs