Waiters and Waitresses salary in Decatur, IL
Waiters and Waitresses in the Decatur, IL metro area earn a median of $31,200 a year ($15.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 530 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,490 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is about the same as the Illinois statewide median of $31,200. There are 12 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $35,310, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Decatur, IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 75th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,490 | $23.31 |
| Average (mean) | $35,310 | $16.98 |
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 | $2,600 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,300 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,200 |
| Weekly | $600 |
| Hourly | $15.00 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IL | $31,200 | 1,370 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $31,200 | 1,500 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $31,200 | 54,100 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 2,680 |
| Kankakee, IL | $31,200 | 550 |
| Peoria, IL | $31,200 | 2,340 |
| Rockford, IL | $31,200 | 1,710 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $31,200 | 20,170 |
| Springfield, IL | $31,200 | 1,600 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $29,280 | 1,010 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $28,710 | 820 |
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 Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Decatur, IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Bartender | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,710 | $16.21 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,440 | $17.52 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,730 | $19.10 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,450 | $16.08 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,250 | $15.02 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dishwasher | $31,990 | $15.38 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Decatur, IL
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 Decatur, IL?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Decatur, IL metro area is $31,200 a year, or $15.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,490 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Decatur, IL?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Decatur, IL metro area earn at least $48,490 a year. The top 25% earn $31,200 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Decatur, IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $31,200 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Decatur, IL?
About 530 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Decatur, IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.