Waiters and Waitresses salary in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
Waiters and Waitresses in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area earn a median of $38,070 a year ($18.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,160 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $72,180 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 15% lower than the New Jersey statewide median of $44,960. There are 9.0 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.62). The average (mean) salary is $46,270, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| 25th percentile | $34,630 | $16.65 |
| Median | $38,070 | $18.30 |
| 75th percentile | $50,080 | $24.08 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $72,180 | $34.70 |
| Average (mean) | $46,270 | $22.24 |
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 | $3,172.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,586.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,464.23 |
| Weekly | $732.12 |
| Hourly | $18.30 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $38,070 salary, see how much house you can afford in New Jersey at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $47,610 | 138,720 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $38,160 | 6,070 |
| Vineland, NJ | $36,800 | 540 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $36,570 | 41,900 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $34,630 | 5,310 |
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 Jersey statewide figures.
Related jobs in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,720 | $16.69 |
| Bartender | $38,800 | $18.66 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,740 | $17.18 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,850 | $22.52 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,950 | $17.28 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,400 | $18.46 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,860 | $16.76 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $70,210 | $33.75 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $42,960 | $20.65 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,830 | $16.74 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $43,350 | $20.84 |
| Dishwasher | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,920 | $17.27 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area is $38,070 a year, or $18.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $72,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area earn at least $72,180 a year. The top 25% earn $50,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,220 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $34,630 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
About 2,160 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area, not counting the self-employed.