Waiters and Waitresses salary in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
Waiters and Waitresses in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn a median of $36,530 a year ($17.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 17,790 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,040 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is about the same as the Ohio statewide median of $36,700. There are 16 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $44,740, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,280 | $11.19 |
| 25th percentile | $29,260 | $14.07 |
| Median | $36,530 | $17.56 |
| 75th percentile | $49,640 | $23.87 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,040 | $35.60 |
| Average (mean) | $44,740 | $21.51 |
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 | $3,044.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,522.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,405 |
| Weekly | $702.50 |
| Hourly | $17.56 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | $37,490 | 15,900 |
| Lima, OH | $36,720 | 680 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $36,600 | 4,700 |
| Cleveland, OH | $36,260 | 14,120 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $36,210 | 2,690 |
| Akron, OH | $36,150 | 4,680 |
| Toledo, OH | $36,140 | 4,600 |
| Springfield, OH | $36,060 | 560 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $35,840 | 500 |
| Mansfield, OH | $35,170 | 850 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $34,910 | 5,020 |
| Sandusky, OH | $34,610 | 1,400 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $33,910 | 2,580 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $31,200 | 54,100 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $30,740 | 880 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $30,690 | 1,720 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $30,270 | 760 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $30,180 | 10,220 |
| Owensboro, KY | $29,790 | 780 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $29,280 | 1,010 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $29,050 | 15,830 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $28,810 | 1,250 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $28,740 | 1,970 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $28,650 | 3,150 |
| Evansville, IN | $28,550 | 2,070 |
| Bloomington, IN | $28,540 | 1,620 |
| Kokomo, IN | $28,420 | 690 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $28,420 | 1,490 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $28,260 | 680 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $28,060 | 1,070 |
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 |
See Waiters and Waitresses pay in every state or the Ohio statewide figures.
Related jobs in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,720 | $14.29 |
| Bartender | $34,240 | $16.46 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $32,070 | $15.42 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,030 | $17.32 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,370 | $18.45 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,930 | $13.91 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,180 | $17.87 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,350 | $14.11 |
| Dishwasher | $30,740 | $14.78 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,890 | $14.37 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $56,620 | $27.22 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $32,180 | $15.47 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $28,090 | $13.50 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
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 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area is $36,530 a year, or $17.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn at least $74,040 a year. The top 25% earn $49,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,280 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $29,260 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
About 17,790 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.