Waiters and Waitresses salary in Delaware
Waiters and Waitresses in Delaware earn a median of $36,880 a year ($17.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,580 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,000 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $35,230. Delaware ranks 17th of 51 states for waiters and waitresses pay. There are 16 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $43,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Delaware
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $36,880 | $17.73 |
| 75th percentile | $46,400 | $22.31 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,000 | $29.81 |
| Average (mean) | $43,070 | $20.71 |
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 | $3,073.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,536.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,418.46 |
| Weekly | $709.23 |
| Hourly | $17.73 |
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 Delaware
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $36,570 | 41,900 |
| Dover, DE | $36,030 | 970 |
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 Delaware
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,300 | $15.05 |
| Bartender | $36,840 | $17.71 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,430 | $15.11 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,120 | $23.13 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,080 | $21.19 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,930 | $17.28 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,880 | $15.33 |
| Dishwasher | $35,780 | $17.20 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,440 | $29.54 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,500 | $18.51 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $33,840 | $16.27 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Delaware
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 Delaware?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in Delaware is $36,880 a year, or $17.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Delaware?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in Delaware earn at least $62,000 a year. The top 25% earn $46,400 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Delaware?
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 Delaware?
About 7,580 waiters and waitresses are employed in Delaware, not counting the self-employed.