Waiters and Waitresses salary in New Jersey
Waiters and Waitresses in New Jersey earn a median of $44,960 a year ($21.62 an hour), based on BLS data for 55,800 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,510 for the top 10%. That is 28% higher than the national median of $35,230. New Jersey ranks 7th 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 $50,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| 25th percentile | $35,710 | $17.17 |
| Median | $44,960 | $21.62 |
| 75th percentile | $56,410 | $27.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,510 | $37.75 |
| Average (mean) | $50,260 | $24.16 |
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 | $3,746.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,873.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,729.23 |
| Weekly | $864.62 |
| Hourly | $21.62 |
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 New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $47,610 | 138,720 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $38,160 | 6,070 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $38,070 | 2,160 |
| Vineland, NJ | $36,800 | 540 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $36,570 | 41,900 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $34,630 | 5,310 |
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 New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,150 | $16.42 |
| Bartender | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,390 | $17.50 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,420 | $23.28 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,170 | $16.43 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,050 | $16.37 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $74,280 | $35.71 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,520 | $21.40 |
| Dishwasher | $35,900 | $17.26 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,290 | $17.45 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $40,720 | $19.58 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in New Jersey
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in New Jersey is $44,960 a year, or $21.62 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in New Jersey earn at least $78,510 a year. The top 25% earn $56,410 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,220 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $35,710 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in New Jersey?
About 55,800 waiters and waitresses are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.