Waiters and Waitresses salary in Massachusetts
Waiters and Waitresses in Massachusetts earn a median of $38,460 a year ($18.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 54,670 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,200 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $35,230. Massachusetts ranks 12th of 51 states for waiters and waitresses pay. There are 15 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $44,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Massachusetts
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,790 | $15.29 |
| 25th percentile | $35,290 | $16.97 |
| Median | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| 75th percentile | $45,700 | $21.97 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,200 | $29.90 |
| Average (mean) | $44,480 | $21.39 |
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 | $3,205 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,602.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,479.23 |
| Weekly | $739.62 |
| Hourly | $18.49 |
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 Massachusetts
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $39,270 | 41,570 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $38,380 | 2,970 |
| Worcester, MA | $36,840 | 4,610 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $36,650 | 980 |
| Springfield, MA | $36,170 | 2,670 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $35,950 | 1,150 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $35,750 | 13,600 |
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 |
Related jobs in Massachusetts
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $35,850 | $17.24 |
| Bartender | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $45,600 | $21.92 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,600 | $22.40 |
| Dishwasher | $37,190 | $17.88 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,900 | $18.70 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,960 | $16.81 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,380 | $17.01 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $47,790 | $22.98 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $69,540 | $33.43 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $44,290 | $21.29 |
| Cooks, All Other | $69,570 | $33.45 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $37,870 | $18.21 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in Massachusetts is $38,460 a year, or $18.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,200 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Massachusetts?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in Massachusetts earn at least $62,200 a year. The top 25% earn $45,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Massachusetts?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,790 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $35,290 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Massachusetts?
About 54,670 waiters and waitresses are employed in Massachusetts, not counting the self-employed.