Waiters and Waitresses salary in Salem, OR
Waiters and Waitresses in the Salem, OR metro area earn a median of $48,720 a year ($23.42 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,850 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,850 for the top 10%. That is 38% higher than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 1% higher than the Oregon statewide median of $48,410. There are 9.8 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.67). The average (mean) salary is $50,860, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Salem, OR
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,300 | $15.05 |
| 25th percentile | $35,330 | $16.99 |
| Median | $48,720 | $23.42 |
| 75th percentile | $61,770 | $29.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,850 | $35.98 |
| Average (mean) | $50,860 | $24.45 |
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 | $4,060 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,030 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,873.85 |
| Weekly | $936.92 |
| Hourly | $23.42 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $54,780 | 13,910 |
| Bend, OR | $50,480 | 1,750 |
| Medford, OR | $50,440 | 1,130 |
| Grants Pass, OR | $48,950 | 330 |
| Albany, OR | $47,440 | 380 |
| Corvallis, OR | $46,600 | 520 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | $42,930 | 1,950 |
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 Oregon statewide figures.
Related jobs in Salem, OR
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,520 | $16.60 |
| Bartender | $38,410 | $18.46 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,720 | $16.69 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $39,170 | $18.83 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $37,300 | $17.93 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,690 | $21.49 |
| Dishwasher | $35,070 | $16.86 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,870 | $16.29 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,780 | $17.68 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,250 | $16.95 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,750 | $30.65 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,910 | $16.78 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $49,900 | $23.99 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Salem, OR
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 Salem, OR?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Salem, OR metro area is $48,720 a year, or $23.42 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,850 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Salem, OR?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Salem, OR metro area earn at least $74,850 a year. The top 25% earn $61,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Salem, OR?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,300 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $35,330 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Salem, OR?
About 1,850 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Salem, OR metro area, not counting the self-employed.