Waiters and Waitresses salary in Gainesville, GA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Gainesville, GA metro area earn a median of $17,980 a year ($8.64 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,390 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,000 for the top 10%. That is 49% lower than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 4% lower than the Georgia statewide median of $18,700. There are 13 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $25,040, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Gainesville, GA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| 25th percentile | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| Median | $17,980 | $8.64 |
| 75th percentile | $29,960 | $14.40 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,000 | $22.11 |
| Average (mean) | $25,040 | $12.04 |
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 | $1,498.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $749.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $691.54 |
| Weekly | $345.77 |
| Hourly | $8.64 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $24,240 | 4,790 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $21,090 | 2,030 |
| Rome, GA | $20,980 | 740 |
| Savannah, GA | $20,830 | 4,940 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $20,800 | 2,080 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $19,070 | 1,350 |
| Valdosta, GA | $18,510 | 1,150 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $18,460 | 45,880 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $18,390 | 3,820 |
| Albany, GA | $18,330 | 900 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $18,250 | 1,510 |
| Dalton, GA | $17,930 | 680 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $17,830 | 1,660 |
| Hinesville, GA | $17,640 | 280 |
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 Georgia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Gainesville, GA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,690 | $12.83 |
| Bartender | $24,180 | $11.63 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,180 | $15.95 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,270 | $17.92 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,310 | $16.97 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,950 | $16.81 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,890 | $13.41 |
| Dishwasher | $29,580 | $14.22 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,250 | $13.10 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,340 | $13.62 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,220 | $18.37 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $23,160 | $11.14 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $70,780 | $34.03 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Gainesville, GA
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 Gainesville, GA?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Gainesville, GA metro area is $17,980 a year, or $8.64 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Gainesville, GA?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Gainesville, GA metro area earn at least $46,000 a year. The top 25% earn $29,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Gainesville, GA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,080 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $15,080 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Gainesville, GA?
About 1,390 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Gainesville, GA metro area, not counting the self-employed.