Waiters and Waitresses salary in Richmond, VA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median of $38,470 a year ($18.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,120 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,000 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 14% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $44,760. There are 14 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $45,010, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Richmond, VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,560 | $13.25 |
| 25th percentile | $30,390 | $14.61 |
| Median | $38,470 | $18.50 |
| 75th percentile | $50,030 | $24.05 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,000 | $35.58 |
| Average (mean) | $45,010 | $21.64 |
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 | $3,205.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,602.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,479.62 |
| Weekly | $739.81 |
| Hourly | $18.50 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $46,040 | 46,160 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $44,760 | 1,150 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $44,030 | 2,140 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $39,020 | 13,100 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $37,910 | 690 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $37,680 | 990 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $37,670 | 1,080 |
| Roanoke, VA | $37,380 | 2,220 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $36,780 | 1,410 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $28,210 | 1,800 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Richmond, VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,500 | $14.19 |
| Bartender | $46,070 | $22.15 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,960 | $16.81 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,080 | $17.83 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,580 | $21.91 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,650 | $16.18 |
| Dishwasher | $31,370 | $15.08 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,980 | $14.41 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,480 | $14.18 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,140 | $17.86 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,570 | $14.22 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $59,730 | $28.72 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,280 | $14.08 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $33,980 | $16.34 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Richmond, VA
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 Richmond, VA?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Richmond, VA metro area is $38,470 a year, or $18.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Richmond, VA?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Richmond, VA metro area earn at least $74,000 a year. The top 25% earn $50,030 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Richmond, VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,560 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $30,390 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Richmond, VA?
About 9,120 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Richmond, VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.