Waiters and Waitresses salary in Punta Gorda, FL
Waiters and Waitresses in the Punta Gorda, FL metro area earn a median of $36,360 a year ($17.48 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,780 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,050 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 1% higher than the Florida statewide median of $36,150. There are 31 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,270, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Punta Gorda, FL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,180 | $13.07 |
| 25th percentile | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Median | $36,360 | $17.48 |
| 75th percentile | $47,030 | $22.61 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,050 | $30.80 |
| Average (mean) | $42,270 | $20.32 |
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 | $3,030 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,515 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,398.46 |
| Weekly | $699.23 |
| Hourly | $17.48 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $37,550 | 6,610 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $37,370 | 4,430 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $37,070 | 25,280 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $36,670 | 5,080 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $36,660 | 7,980 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $36,660 | 9,200 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $36,630 | 13,140 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $36,340 | 1,170 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $36,250 | 4,050 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $36,070 | 57,830 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $36,060 | 1,560 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $35,440 | 5,920 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $35,410 | 1,020 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $35,410 | 36,820 |
| Gainesville, FL | $35,400 | 2,540 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $35,340 | 4,260 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $35,270 | 3,730 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $34,990 | 2,520 |
| Sebring, FL | $34,960 | 560 |
| Ocala, FL | $34,890 | 2,110 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $34,850 | 2,600 |
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 Florida statewide figures.
Related jobs in Punta Gorda, FL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,100 | $13.99 |
| Bartender | $35,690 | $17.16 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,730 | $17.66 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,310 | $17.46 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,710 | $21.98 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $32,740 | $15.74 |
| Dishwasher | $30,100 | $14.47 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,170 | $14.02 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $54,340 | $26.13 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,200 | $17.89 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Punta Gorda, FL
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 Punta Gorda, FL?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Punta Gorda, FL metro area is $36,360 a year, or $17.48 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,050 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Punta Gorda, FL?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Punta Gorda, FL metro area earn at least $64,050 a year. The top 25% earn $47,030 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Punta Gorda, FL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,180 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $28,600 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Punta Gorda, FL?
About 1,780 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Punta Gorda, FL metro area, not counting the self-employed.