Waiters and Waitresses salary in Georgia
Waiters and Waitresses in Georgia earn a median of $18,700 a year ($8.99 an hour), based on BLS data for 76,470 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,860 for the top 10%. That is 47% lower than the national median of $35,230. Georgia ranks 48th 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 $26,610, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Georgia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| 25th percentile | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| Median | $18,700 | $8.99 |
| 75th percentile | $35,850 | $17.24 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,860 | $22.53 |
| Average (mean) | $26,610 | $12.80 |
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 | $1,558.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $779.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $719.23 |
| Weekly | $359.62 |
| Hourly | $8.99 |
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 Georgia
| 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 |
| Gainesville, GA | $17,980 | 1,390 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Georgia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,920 | $12.94 |
| Bartender | $22,830 | $10.98 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,530 | $15.16 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,600 | $18.56 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,940 | $17.28 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,250 | $16.95 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,850 | $13.39 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,920 | $13.91 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,940 | $12.95 |
| Dishwasher | $29,730 | $14.29 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $26,870 | $12.92 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,230 | $31.84 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $25,740 | $12.38 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Georgia
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 Georgia?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in Georgia is $18,700 a year, or $8.99 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,860 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Georgia?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in Georgia earn at least $46,860 a year. The top 25% earn $35,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Georgia?
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 Georgia?
About 76,470 waiters and waitresses are employed in Georgia, not counting the self-employed.