Waiters and Waitresses salary in Rochester, NY
Waiters and Waitresses in the Rochester, NY metro area earn a median of $45,310 a year ($21.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,070 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,400 for the top 10%. That is 29% higher than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 4% lower than the New York statewide median of $47,020. There are 12 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $51,280, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Rochester, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,240 | $15.50 |
| 25th percentile | $33,470 | $16.09 |
| Median | $45,310 | $21.78 |
| 75th percentile | $61,150 | $29.40 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,400 | $38.65 |
| Average (mean) | $51,280 | $24.66 |
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 | $3,775.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,887.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,742.69 |
| Weekly | $871.35 |
| Hourly | $21.78 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $48,980 | 6,310 |
| Syracuse, NY | $47,640 | 3,430 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $47,610 | 138,720 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $46,950 | 3,930 |
| Binghamton, NY | $46,600 | 1,390 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $46,580 | 7,990 |
| Kingston, NY | $46,440 | 1,280 |
| Elmira, NY | $46,160 | 480 |
| Ithaca, NY | $46,090 | 620 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $45,950 | 1,790 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $43,900 | 990 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $38,590 | 710 |
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 New York statewide figures.
Related jobs in Rochester, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,430 | $16.07 |
| Bartender | $45,920 | $22.08 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,780 | $17.20 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,040 | $20.69 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,380 | $18.45 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,020 | $16.84 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,310 | $16.98 |
| Dishwasher | $33,880 | $16.29 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,580 | $17.59 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $33,750 | $16.22 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,380 | $16.05 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,080 | $31.77 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Rochester, NY
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 Rochester, NY?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Rochester, NY metro area is $45,310 a year, or $21.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,400 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Rochester, NY?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Rochester, NY metro area earn at least $80,400 a year. The top 25% earn $61,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Rochester, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,240 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $33,470 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Rochester, NY?
About 6,070 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Rochester, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.