Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012

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)
2,332,020 0.5 % $9.95 $20,710 0.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $7.79 $8.27 $8.92 $10.26 $14.19
Annual Wage (2) $16,210 $17,210 $18,540 $21,350 $29,510

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 1,921,190 21.50 $9.79 $20,370
Traveler Accommodation 131,860 7.57 $11.71 $24,360
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries 64,860 5.98 $10.43 $21,700
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) 60,330 17.24 $9.45 $19,660
Special Food Services 53,640 9.08 $11.10 $23,090

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 1,921,190 21.50 $9.79 $20,370
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) 60,330 17.24 $9.45 $19,660
Special Food Services 53,640 9.08 $11.10 $23,090
Traveler Accommodation 131,860 7.57 $11.71 $24,360
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water 1,010 7.29 $11.39 $23,680

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Elementary and Secondary Schools (8) (8) $12.89 $26,800
Furniture Stores 40 0.02 $12.79 $26,610
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events 1,220 1.22 $12.19 $25,360
Department Stores 820 0.05 $11.88 $24,710
Traveler Accommodation 131,860 7.57 $11.71 $24,360

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 245,000 17.13 0.96 $10.29 $21,410
Texas 194,330 18.37 1.03 $9.27 $19,280
Florida 185,830 25.55 1.43 $10.12 $21,040
New York 138,500 16.21 0.91 $10.94 $22,760
Pennsylvania 89,340 15.96 0.89 $9.93 $20,660




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 38,080 33.78 1.89 $10.84 $22,540
Florida 185,830 25.55 1.43 $10.12 $21,040
Hawaii 13,030 22.14 1.24 $12.64 $26,280
Colorado 46,440 20.86 1.17 $10.41 $21,650
New Mexico 15,880 20.52 1.15 $10.29 $21,400




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Massachusetts 57,410 17.93 1.00 $13.13 $27,310
District of Columbia 9,130 13.96 0.78 $13.08 $27,210
Washington 41,540 15.03 0.84 $13.00 $27,040
Vermont 4,280 14.56 0.81 $12.67 $26,360
Hawaii 13,030 22.14 1.24 $12.64 $26,280





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 76,400 14.81 0.83 $11.76 $24,450
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 64,290 16.61 0.93 $10.40 $21,630
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 49,830 13.69 0.76 $10.72 $22,290
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 46,660 17.67 0.99 $9.72 $20,220
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 44,190 19.54 1.09 $9.41 $19,570
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 37,870 16.16 0.90 $11.67 $24,270
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 37,290 17.78 0.99 $10.11 $21,030
Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ 32,960 19.05 1.06 $9.98 $20,760
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 31,760 18.56 1.04 $13.69 $28,480
Las Vegas-Paradise, NV 31,710 38.75 2.16 $11.23 $23,350