Waiters and Waitresses salary in Arizona
Waiters and Waitresses in Arizona earn a median of $43,950 a year ($21.13 an hour), based on BLS data for 55,950 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,920 for the top 10%. That is 25% higher than the national median of $35,230. Arizona ranks 10th of 51 states for waiters and waitresses pay. There are 17 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $51,170, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Arizona
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,580 | $14.70 |
| 25th percentile | $33,850 | $16.27 |
| Median | $43,950 | $21.13 |
| 75th percentile | $63,020 | $30.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,920 | $37.94 |
| Average (mean) | $51,170 | $24.60 |
Half of waiters and waitresses earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,662.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,831.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,690.38 |
| Weekly | $845.19 |
| Hourly | $21.13 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in cities in Arizona
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $47,530 | 39,920 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $37,080 | 2,210 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $36,670 | 1,840 |
| Tucson, AZ | $36,490 | 7,300 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $36,370 | 1,190 |
| Yuma, AZ | $36,120 | 1,000 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $34,020 | 600 |
Highest-paying states for waiters and waitresses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $62,390 |
| Vermont | $59,140 |
| Washington | $56,130 |
| Oregon | $48,410 |
| District of Columbia | $47,850 |
| New York | $47,020 |
| New Jersey | $44,960 |
| Colorado | $44,860 |
| Virginia | $44,760 |
| Arizona | $43,950 |
Related jobs in Arizona
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,230 | $16.46 |
| Bartender | $45,070 | $21.67 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,390 | $17.01 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $40,550 | $19.49 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,500 | $17.55 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $32,660 | $15.70 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,740 | $16.70 |
| Dishwasher | $35,130 | $16.89 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $39,660 | $19.07 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $59,890 | $28.79 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $37,600 | $18.08 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Arizona
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiters and waitresses make in Arizona?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in Arizona is $43,950 a year, or $21.13 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,920 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Arizona?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in Arizona earn at least $78,920 a year. The top 25% earn $63,020 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Arizona?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,580 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $33,850 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Arizona?
About 55,950 waiters and waitresses are employed in Arizona, not counting the self-employed.