Waiters and Waitresses salary in Cleveland, OH
Waiters and Waitresses in the Cleveland, OH metro area earn a median of $36,260 a year ($17.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 14,120 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,600 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 1% lower than the Ohio statewide median of $36,700. There are 14 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $41,010, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Cleveland, OH
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,220 | $11.65 |
| 25th percentile | $29,050 | $13.96 |
| Median | $36,260 | $17.43 |
| 75th percentile | $46,940 | $22.57 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,600 | $36.83 |
| Average (mean) | $41,010 | $19.72 |
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 | $3,021.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,510.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,394.62 |
| Weekly | $697.31 |
| Hourly | $17.43 |
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 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,530 | 17,790 |
| 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 |
| Sandusky, OH | $34,610 | 1,400 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $33,910 | 2,580 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $30,740 | 880 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $30,690 | 1,720 |
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 Cleveland, OH
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,750 | $13.82 |
| Bartender | $33,470 | $16.09 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,350 | $14.59 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,700 | $18.13 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,060 | $17.82 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,930 | $17.76 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,060 | $13.01 |
| Dishwasher | $29,360 | $14.12 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,400 | $14.13 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $22,260 | $10.70 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $57,020 | $27.41 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $27,700 | $13.32 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,120 | $14.00 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Cleveland, OH
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 Cleveland, OH?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Cleveland, OH metro area is $36,260 a year, or $17.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,600 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Cleveland, OH?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Cleveland, OH metro area earn at least $76,600 a year. The top 25% earn $46,940 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Cleveland, OH?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,220 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $29,050 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Cleveland, OH?
About 14,120 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Cleveland, OH metro area, not counting the self-employed.