Waiters and Waitresses salary in Rhode Island
Waiters and Waitresses in Rhode Island earn a median of $35,420 a year ($17.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 10,160 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. Rhode Island ranks 23rd of 51 states for waiters and waitresses pay. There are 20 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,740, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Rhode Island
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $35,420 | $17.03 |
| 75th percentile | $50,840 | $24.44 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,680 | $30.14 |
| Average (mean) | $42,740 | $20.55 |
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 | $2,951.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,475.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,362.31 |
| Weekly | $681.15 |
| Hourly | $17.03 |
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 Rhode Island
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $35,750 | 13,600 |
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 |
Related jobs in Rhode Island
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,490 | $15.14 |
| Bartender | $36,410 | $17.51 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,860 | $16.76 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,510 | $17.55 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,400 | $23.27 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,470 | $17.06 |
| Dishwasher | $33,960 | $16.33 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,230 | $16.94 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,570 | $22.39 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $79,930 | $38.43 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $46,250 | $22.24 |
| 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 Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in Rhode Island is $35,420 a year, or $17.03 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 Rhode Island?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in Rhode Island earn at least $62,680 a year. The top 25% earn $50,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Rhode Island?
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 Rhode Island?
About 10,160 waiters and waitresses are employed in Rhode Island, not counting the self-employed.