Waiters and Waitresses salary in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area earn a median of $35,750 a year ($17.19 an hour), based on BLS data for 13,600 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,680 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 1% higher than the Rhode Island statewide median of $35,420. There are 19 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,400, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $35,750 | $17.19 |
| 75th percentile | $50,340 | $24.20 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,680 | $30.14 |
| Average (mean) | $42,400 | $20.39 |
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 | $2,979.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,489.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,375 |
| Weekly | $687.50 |
| Hourly | $17.19 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other metro areas nearby
| 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 |
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 |
See Waiters and Waitresses pay in every state or the Rhode Island statewide figures.
Related jobs in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,700 | $16.20 |
| Bartender | $35,680 | $17.15 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,870 | $16.77 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,460 | $18.01 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,640 | $22.42 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,250 | $17.43 |
| Dishwasher | $34,640 | $16.65 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,350 | $22.28 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,260 | $16.95 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $79,340 | $38.15 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $44,050 | $21.18 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,400 | $15.10 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
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 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area is $35,750 a year, or $17.19 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,680 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area earn at least $62,680 a year. The top 25% earn $50,340 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $31,200 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA?
About 13,600 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area, not counting the self-employed.