Waiters and Waitresses pay in the US: advertised rates, October 2026
By YourJobs Editorial
Based on 1,300 Waiters and Waitresses postings on yourjobs.com between 20 September and 20 October 2026, of which 18% stated pay. The median advertised hourly rate was $23.00 (n = 227 postings with pay); the middle half of postings offered $20.32 to $23.00. This page was built 20 October 2026.
55% of these postings are from Applebee's Grill + Bar - Epping.
Advertised pay
| Measure | Hourly | Annual equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $20.32 | $42,266 |
| Median advertised hourly rate | $23.00 | $47,840 |
| 75th percentile | $23.00 | $47,840 |
| Highest advertised rate we recorded | $96.15 | $199,992 |
Sample
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Postings, 20 September to 20 October 2026 | 1,300 |
| Postings that stated pay | 227 (18%) |
| Pay figures that came with a stated period | 98% |
| Postings with an employment type recorded | 915 (70%) |
| Full time, of postings with a type recorded | 23% |
| Part time, of postings with a type recorded | 73% |
| Employers | 65 |
| Cities | 75 |
Highest advertised rate we recorded
This is one posting, shown with its evidence. It is the top of the range, not a typical rate.
- Rate
- $96.15 per hour (hourly equivalent)
- Figure in posting (period inferred as year)
- $138,000 to $200,000 per year
- Job title
- Data Center Server Operations Manager
- Employer
- Location
- Pryor, Oklahoma
- First seen
- 18 October 2026
- Posting text
- “…perience, and relevant education or training. US: $138000 - $200000 (USD) + 15% bonus target + equity + benefits Respo…”
- Posting
- View this job, still open
Employers posting the most Waiters and Waitresses jobs in the US
| Employer | Postings | Median advertised hourly rate | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applebee's Grill + Bar - Epping | 718 | Open jobs | |
| Upshift | 201 | $23.00 | Open jobs |
| Spickler NGW LLC | 78 | Open jobs | |
| SOUTHALL FARM & INN | 28 | Open jobs | |
| Applebee's - Greentree | 18 | Open jobs | |
| Applebee's - Hooksett | 18 | Open jobs | |
| Applebee's - West Lebanon | 18 | Open jobs | |
| Applebee's - West Mifflin | 18 | Open jobs | |
| Chuy's - Madeira | 18 | Open jobs | |
| Chuy's - Polaris | 18 | Open jobs |
A median is shown only where at least 30 of the employer's postings stated pay. Employers are counted by name as posted.
Waiters and Waitresses pay by state
| State | Postings | Median advertised hourly rate | Pay page |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | 775 | Waiters and Waitresses pay in New Hampshire | |
| Pennsylvania | 178 | $23.00 | Waiters and Waitresses pay in Pennsylvania |
| Michigan | 96 | $19.95 | Waiters and Waitresses pay in Michigan |
| Arizona | 79 | Waiters and Waitresses pay in Arizona | |
| Ohio | 42 | Waiters and Waitresses pay in Ohio | |
| Tennessee | 30 | Waiters and Waitresses pay in Tennessee | |
| New York | 14 | ||
| Indiana | 12 | ||
| Maine | 11 | ||
| Hawaii | 8 | ||
| North Carolina | 8 | ||
| Vermont | 8 | ||
| South Carolina | 7 | ||
| Georgia | 4 | ||
| Texas | 4 |
Month by month
| Month | Postings | With pay | Median hourly | 25th pct | 75th pct | Remote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 (to date) | 1,288 | 224 | $23.00 | $20.47 | $23.00 | 0% |
| September 2026 | 19 | 4 | 0% | |||
| August 2026 | 2 | 2 | 0% |
A month is the month a posting was first seen. Pay cells are blank where fewer than 30 postings stated pay.
Data collection began on 20 October 2026. Earlier months contain only postings that were still live on that date, so they are partial.
Comparison with official earnings data
For comparison, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage for this occupation was $31,940 (national). Advertised pay and earned pay are different measures.
Related pages
- Current Waiters and Waitresses jobs
- Top employers hiring in the US
- Pay data for all occupations
- How the data is collected and calculated
Notes and sources
Hourly equivalents assume 2,080 hours a year (40 x 52); daily 8 hours; weekly 40 hours. Advertised pay is what employers posted, not what workers earn.
Source: yourjobs.com job postings (ClickCast feed), parsed as described on the methodology page. Updated daily; this page was built 20 October 2026, 07:15.
Download the data: pay by occupation and state (CSV), licensed CC BY 4.0.
Cite as:
YourJobs (2026). Advertised pay for Waiters and Waitresses in the US, 20 September to 20 October 2026. https://yourjobs.com/pay/waiters