Waiters and Waitresses salary in Michigan
Waiters and Waitresses in Michigan earn a median of $37,760 a year ($18.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 65,090 workers.
Pay ranges from $25,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,350 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $35,230. Michigan ranks 15th 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 $44,910, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Michigan
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,960 | $12.48 |
| 25th percentile | $29,350 | $14.11 |
| Median | $37,760 | $18.16 |
| 75th percentile | $58,550 | $28.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,350 | $30.94 |
| Average (mean) | $44,910 | $21.59 |
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 | $3,146.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,573.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,452.31 |
| Weekly | $726.15 |
| Hourly | $18.16 |
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 Michigan
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $44,920 | 930 |
| Flint, MI | $44,030 | 2,120 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $42,930 | 8,080 |
| Traverse City, MI | $41,380 | 1,610 |
| Bay City, MI | $40,500 | 570 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $40,230 | 2,710 |
| Jackson, MI | $39,920 | 810 |
| Saginaw, MI | $39,430 | 1,470 |
| Monroe, MI | $38,780 | 660 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $38,210 | 2,710 |
| Niles, MI | $38,130 | 1,390 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $37,760 | 1,740 |
| Midland, MI | $37,750 | 430 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $37,490 | 29,210 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $36,370 | 750 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $28,740 | 1,970 |
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 Michigan
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,930 | $13.91 |
| Bartender | $36,780 | $17.68 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,260 | $16.47 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,980 | $17.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,940 | $18.24 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,180 | $14.99 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,460 | $14.17 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,870 | $17.72 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,390 | $14.61 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,950 | $13.92 |
| Dishwasher | $31,300 | $15.05 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,070 | $28.88 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,510 | $16.59 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,100 | $16.88 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Michigan
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 Michigan?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in Michigan is $37,760 a year, or $18.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $25,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,350 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Michigan?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in Michigan earn at least $64,350 a year. The top 25% earn $58,550 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Michigan?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $25,960 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $29,350 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Michigan?
About 65,090 waiters and waitresses are employed in Michigan, not counting the self-employed.