Waiters and Waitresses salary in Roanoke, VA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Roanoke, VA metro area earn a median of $37,380 a year ($17.97 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,220 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,650 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 16% 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 $42,030, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Roanoke, VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,750 | $12.86 |
| 25th percentile | $29,400 | $14.13 |
| Median | $37,380 | $17.97 |
| 75th percentile | $47,460 | $22.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,650 | $28.68 |
| Average (mean) | $42,030 | $20.21 |
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 | $3,115 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,557.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,437.69 |
| Weekly | $718.85 |
| Hourly | $17.97 |
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 |
| Richmond, VA | $38,470 | 9,120 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $37,910 | 690 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $37,680 | 990 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $37,670 | 1,080 |
| 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 Roanoke, VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,720 | $13.33 |
| Bartender | $46,530 | $22.37 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $32,010 | $15.39 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,920 | $16.79 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,440 | $18.96 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,790 | $14.80 |
| Dishwasher | $28,790 | $13.84 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,670 | $17.15 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,160 | $13.54 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,590 | $13.74 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,260 | $14.07 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $57,350 | $27.57 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,160 | $14.02 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Roanoke, 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 Roanoke, VA?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Roanoke, VA metro area is $37,380 a year, or $17.97 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,650 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Roanoke, VA?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Roanoke, VA metro area earn at least $59,650 a year. The top 25% earn $47,460 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Roanoke, VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,750 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $29,400 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Roanoke, VA?
About 2,220 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Roanoke, VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.