Waiters and Waitresses salary in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
Waiters and Waitresses in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area earn a median of $35,270 a year ($16.96 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,730 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,030 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 2% lower than the Florida statewide median of $36,150. There are 14 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $39,980, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,050 | $13.00 |
| 25th percentile | $28,490 | $13.70 |
| Median | $35,270 | $16.96 |
| 75th percentile | $45,560 | $21.90 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,030 | $28.86 |
| Average (mean) | $39,980 | $19.22 |
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 | $2,939.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,469.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,356.54 |
| Weekly | $678.27 |
| Hourly | $16.96 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $37,550 | 6,610 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $37,370 | 4,430 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $37,070 | 25,280 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $36,670 | 5,080 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $36,660 | 7,980 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $36,660 | 9,200 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $36,630 | 13,140 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | $36,360 | 1,780 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $36,340 | 1,170 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $36,250 | 4,050 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $36,070 | 57,830 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $36,060 | 1,560 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $35,440 | 5,920 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $35,410 | 1,020 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $35,410 | 36,820 |
| Gainesville, FL | $35,400 | 2,540 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $35,340 | 4,260 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $34,990 | 2,520 |
| Sebring, FL | $34,960 | 560 |
| Ocala, FL | $34,890 | 2,110 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $34,850 | 2,600 |
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 Florida statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,050 | $13.49 |
| Bartender | $33,920 | $16.31 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,670 | $16.19 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,600 | $17.12 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,610 | $16.64 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,250 | $17.43 |
| Dishwasher | $29,190 | $14.03 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,140 | $14.01 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,500 | $13.70 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $50,720 | $24.39 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,320 | $16.98 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $34,930 | $16.79 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
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 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area is $35,270 a year, or $16.96 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,030 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area earn at least $60,030 a year. The top 25% earn $45,560 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,050 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $28,490 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
About 3,730 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area, not counting the self-employed.