Waiters and Waitresses salary in Oregon
Waiters and Waitresses in Oregon earn a median of $48,410 a year ($23.27 an hour), based on BLS data for 23,040 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,620 for the top 10%. That is 37% higher than the national median of $35,230. Oregon ranks 4th of 51 states for waiters and waitresses pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 12 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $52,400, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Oregon
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $35,240 | $16.94 |
| Median | $48,410 | $23.27 |
| 75th percentile | $63,620 | $30.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,620 | $37.32 |
| Average (mean) | $52,400 | $25.19 |
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 | $4,034.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,017.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,861.92 |
| Weekly | $930.96 |
| Hourly | $23.27 |
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 Oregon
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $54,780 | 13,910 |
| Bend, OR | $50,480 | 1,750 |
| Medford, OR | $50,440 | 1,130 |
| Grants Pass, OR | $48,950 | 330 |
| Salem, OR | $48,720 | 1,850 |
| Albany, OR | $47,440 | 380 |
| Corvallis, OR | $46,600 | 520 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | $42,930 | 1,950 |
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 Oregon
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $35,050 | $16.85 |
| Bartender | $38,900 | $18.70 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,620 | $17.61 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $43,100 | $20.72 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,950 | $22.57 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $37,450 | $18.00 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,520 | $21.40 |
| Dishwasher | $36,040 | $17.33 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $40,720 | $19.58 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $37,880 | $18.21 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,800 | $17.69 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,600 | $30.58 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,550 | $18.54 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $39,080 | $18.79 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Oregon
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 Oregon?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in Oregon is $48,410 a year, or $23.27 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,620 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Oregon?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in Oregon earn at least $77,620 a year. The top 25% earn $63,620 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Oregon?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $35,240 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Oregon?
About 23,040 waiters and waitresses are employed in Oregon, not counting the self-employed.