Waiters and Waitresses salary in Nebraska
Waiters and Waitresses in Nebraska earn a median of $33,770 a year ($16.24 an hour), based on BLS data for 13,310 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,420 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $35,230. Nebraska ranks 26th of 51 states for waiters and waitresses pay. There are 13 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $39,590, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Nebraska
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,080 | $13.50 |
| 25th percentile | $28,340 | $13.63 |
| Median | $33,770 | $16.24 |
| 75th percentile | $46,710 | $22.46 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,420 | $28.57 |
| Average (mean) | $39,590 | $19.03 |
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 | $2,814.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,407.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,298.85 |
| Weekly | $649.42 |
| Hourly | $16.24 |
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 Nebraska
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln, NE | $36,080 | 2,520 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $34,290 | 7,620 |
| Grand Island, NE | $29,840 | 570 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $26,430 | 1,030 |
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 Nebraska
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,000 | $13.94 |
| Bartender | $30,180 | $14.51 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,540 | $15.17 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,230 | $18.86 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,210 | $16.93 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,030 | $17.81 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,390 | $17.50 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,430 | $14.63 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,450 | $13.68 |
| Dishwasher | $29,740 | $14.30 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,690 | $14.76 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,530 | $14.68 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,510 | $29.09 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $46,170 | $22.20 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Nebraska
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 Nebraska?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in Nebraska is $33,770 a year, or $16.24 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Nebraska?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in Nebraska earn at least $59,420 a year. The top 25% earn $46,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Nebraska?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,080 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $28,340 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Nebraska?
About 13,310 waiters and waitresses are employed in Nebraska, not counting the self-employed.