The median pay for Waiters and Waitresses is $35,230 a year ($16.94/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 2.0% through 2035, with about 423,100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
- SOC 35-3031
- Food Preparation and Serving Related
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Server in four numbers
- Median pay
- $35,230a year, or $16.94/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $18KTop 10% $65K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +2.0%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+2%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +2% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 423,1002,284,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20252.3M
- Projected 20352.3M
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 2.3M Projected 2035 2.3M - Typical education
- No formal credentialneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school32.3%
- High school57.6%
- Certificate8.3%
- Some college1.1%
- Associate's0.7%
Highest education held by waiters and waitresses Segment Value Less than high school 32.3% High school 57.6% Certificate 8.3% Some college 1.1% Associate's 0.7%
Also advertised as: Banquet Server, Busser, Cocktail Server, Food Runner, Food Server, Restaurant Server.
Pay
How much do servers make?
Waiters and Waitresses earn a median of $35,230 a year ($16.94 an hour, or about $2,940 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $18,100 and the top 10% more than $64,720 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is Hawaii, with a median of $62,390. See Server salary in Hawaii and every other state. By city, pay is highest around Kahului ($87,210 average): salary in every city.
Every server in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$35,230
Middle half earn $27,750 to $47,110
- 10th
- $18,100
- 25th
- $27,750
- 75th
- $47,110
- 90th
- $64,720
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $18,100 |
| 25th | $27,750 |
| Median | $35,230 |
| 75th | $47,110 |
| 90th | $64,720 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $35,230
- Median hourly wage
- $16.94/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $40,060
- People employed
- 2,270,910
Versus all US occupations
At $35,230, Waiters and Waitresses earn 31% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $15,750 a year.
Versus food preparation and serving related occupations
The median is typical for the Food Preparation and Serving Related group, where the middle occupation pays $35,360.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $64,720 or more while the bottom 10% earn $18,100, a gap of 3.6×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 1% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Hawaii posts the highest raw median ($62,390), but once local prices are taken into account Vermont leads at $60,373 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay servers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Hawaii | $62,390 | $56,743 | 14,090 |
| 2Vermont | $59,140 | $60,373 | 4,040 |
| 3Washington | $56,130 | $52,452 | 45,400 |
| 4Oregon | $48,410 | $46,836 | 23,040 |
| 5District of Columbia | $47,850 | $43,539 | 11,530 |
| 6New York | $47,020 | $43,569 | 142,940 |
| 7New Jersey | $44,960 | $41,322 | 55,800 |
| 8Colorado | $44,860 | $43,531 | 40,680 |
| 9Virginia | $44,760 | $44,271 | 59,370 |
| 10Arizona | $43,950 | $43,654 | 55,950 |
Job outlook
Is server a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +2.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | +2% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Waiters and Waitresses to change 2.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 46,500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 423,100 openings are projected each year, 18.5% of the 2,284,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Despite limited employment growth, about 423,100 openings for waiters and waitresses are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Many establishments will continue to use waiters and waitresses to serve food and beverages and to provide customer service. However, reduced need for these workers is expected due to increases in the use of self-service technology, such as kiosks that allow customers to order and pay for food, and in carryout.
AI exposure: moderate
BLS places this occupation in its moderate relative AI exposure category, below the middle of the pack: some of the work overlaps with what AI can do, much of it does not.
Getting in
How to become a server
Waiters and waitresses typically do not need formal education or related work experience to enter the occupation. They typically learn through on-the-job training that lasts 1 month or less.
Most states require workers who serve alcoholic beverages to be at least 18 years old, but some states require servers to be older. Waiters and waitresses who serve alcohol must be familiar with state and local laws concerning the sale of alcoholic beverages.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
No formal educational credential
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as waiters and waitresses.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)57.6%
- Less than a High School Diploma32.3%
- Post-Secondary Certificate8.3%
- Some College Courses1.1%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree0.7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 57.6% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 32.3% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 8.3% |
| Some College Courses | 1.1% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 0.7% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a server do?
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
Waiters and waitresses take orders and serve food and beverages to customers in dining establishments.
Day-to-day tasks
- Remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters, and take them to kitchen for cleaning.
- Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals, and take action to correct any problems.
- Clean tables or counters after patrons have finished dining.
- Take orders from patrons for food or beverages.
- Stock service areas with supplies such as coffee, food, tableware, and linens.
- Write patrons' food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff.
- Fill salt, pepper, sugar, cream, condiment, and napkin containers.
- Present menus to patrons and answer questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Part time work is common, and schedules may vary to include early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays.
In establishments that offer seasonal employment, waiters and waitresses may be employed for only a few months each year.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes are not usually serious.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where waiters and waitresses work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Food services and drinking places85%
- Traveler accommodation6%
- Arts, entertainment, and recreation4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Food services and drinking places | 85% |
| Traveler accommodation | 6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 4% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.5
- Speaking3.5
- Monitoring3.0
- Critical Thinking2.9
- Reading Comprehension2.8
- Active Learning2.5
- Writing2.1
- Mathematics2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.5 |
| Speaking | 3.5 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.8 |
| Active Learning | 2.5 |
| Writing | 2.1 |
| Mathematics | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Service Orientation3.9
- Social Perceptiveness3.4
- Coordination3.1
- Persuasion2.8
- Judgment and Decision Making2.8
- Time Management2.8
- Complex Problem Solving2.6
- Quality Control Analysis2.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Service Orientation | 3.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.4 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Persuasion | 2.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.8 |
| Time Management | 2.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.6 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Instant messaging software
- Point of sale POS software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as a server?
Women make up 69.8% of waiters and waitresses, against 47.1% of all employed people: more women than in the workforce as a whole.
Only 7.5% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs): a young workforce, with 49.7% under 25.
The median worker is 25.8 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 69.8%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 25.8All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 7.5%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 1,754,000BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of waiters and waitresses | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 69.8% | 47.1% |
| White | 76.2% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 11.9% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 6.4% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 27.9% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 7.5% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 49.7% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a server?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Server |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 5 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with teaching, helping and working directly with other people.
- Conventional5.0
- Social4.7
- Realistic4.1
- Enterprising4.1
- Artistic1.8
- Investigative1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Server
O*NET related occupations
- Food Preparation and Serving Related
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper
$33,980median a year
Most earn $21K to $47K
+5.3%No formal credential - Food Preparation and Serving Related
- Food Preparation and Serving Related
- Food Preparation and Serving Related
- Food Preparation and Serving Related
Host and Hostess, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
$31,200median a year
Most earn $22K to $44K
+3.4%No formal credential - Food Preparation and Serving Related
More food preparation and serving related careers
Median annual pay, with waiters and waitresses highlighted
- Chef$62,470
- Corporate Executive Chef$62,470
- Food Preparation Worker$35,320
- Server$35,230
- Bartender$34,340
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper$33,980
- Barista$31,200
- Fast Food and Counter Worker$31,200
- Host and Hostess, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$31,200
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Chef | $62,470 |
| Corporate Executive Chef | $62,470 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,320 |
| Server | $35,230 |
| Bartender | $34,340 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $33,980 |
| Barista | $31,200 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $31,200 |
| Host and Hostess, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Server appears on
Questions
Server: frequently asked questions
How much do servers make?
Waiters and Waitresses earn a median of $35,230 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 31% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $16.94/hr. The middle half earn between $27,750 and $47,110. The top 10% earn $64,720 or more.
How much do servers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for waiters and waitresses is $16.94 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $35,230 annual median works out to about $2,940 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a server?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of waiters and waitresses earn less than $18,100 a year and the bottom quarter less than $27,750 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Which states pay servers the most?
The highest state medians for Waiters and Waitresses are Hawaii ($62,390), Vermont ($59,140), Washington ($56,130) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Vermont moves to the top at $60,373.
What kind of server earns the most?
BLS does not split waiters and waitresses' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $64,720, against a median of $35,230 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are Hawaii ($62,390), Vermont ($59,140), Washington ($56,130).
Do you need a degree to become a server?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement for Waiters and Waitresses, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as some preparation. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 57.6% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
How long does it take to become a server?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for servers is no formal educational credential. Once hired, BLS lists short-term on-the-job training as typical. O*NET classes the work as needing some preparation.
Is server a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 2.0% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 423,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a server do?
Waiters and waitresses take orders and serve food and beverages to customers in dining establishments. A core O*NET task: remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters, and take them to kitchen for cleaning. Employers most often ask for Web page creation and editing software.
Do servers work 40 hours a week?
Most work fewer than 40. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 0% of waiters and waitresses usually work more than 40 hours a week, 3% work exactly 40 and 97% work fewer. 92% say their schedule is regular and 7% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits a server?
O*NET scores Waiters and Waitresses highest on the Conventional, Social and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with teaching, helping and working directly with other people. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
What percentage of servers are women?
Women make up 69.8% of waiters and waitresses, against 47.1% of all employed people: more women than in the workforce as a whole. Only 7.5% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs): a young workforce, with 49.7% under 25. The median worker is 25.8 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages.