Waiters and Waitresses salary in Hawaii
Waiters and Waitresses in Hawaii earn a median of $62,390 a year ($29.99 an hour), based on BLS data for 14,090 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $119,870 for the top 10%. That is 77% higher than the national median of $35,230. Hawaii ranks 1st of 51 states for waiters and waitresses pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 22 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $68,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Hawaii
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,120 | $14.00 |
| 25th percentile | $30,090 | $14.47 |
| Median | $62,390 | $29.99 |
| 75th percentile | $96,010 | $46.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $119,870 | $57.63 |
| Average (mean) | $68,260 | $32.82 |
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 | $5,199.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,599.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,399.62 |
| Weekly | $1,199.81 |
| Hourly | $29.99 |
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 Hawaii
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $82,550 | 2,700 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $60,250 | 8,550 |
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 Hawaii
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $35,250 | $16.95 |
| Bartender | $76,490 | $36.78 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $37,920 | $18.23 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $45,420 | $21.84 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,880 | $23.50 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,160 | $18.35 |
| Dishwasher | $37,740 | $18.14 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $51,200 | $24.62 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $47,070 | $22.63 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $47,770 | $22.97 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $77,360 | $37.19 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $43,110 | $20.73 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $43,540 | $20.93 |
| Cooks, All Other | $39,870 | $19.17 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Hawaii
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 Hawaii?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in Hawaii is $62,390 a year, or $29.99 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $119,870 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Hawaii?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in Hawaii earn at least $119,870 a year. The top 25% earn $96,010 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Hawaii?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,120 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $30,090 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Hawaii?
About 14,090 waiters and waitresses are employed in Hawaii, not counting the self-employed.