Waiters and Waitresses salary in Tucson, AZ
Waiters and Waitresses in the Tucson, AZ metro area earn a median of $36,490 a year ($17.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,300 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,520 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 17% lower than the Arizona statewide median of $43,950. There are 19 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $45,450, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Tucson, AZ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,580 | $14.70 |
| 25th percentile | $31,460 | $15.12 |
| Median | $36,490 | $17.54 |
| 75th percentile | $56,870 | $27.34 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,520 | $35.34 |
| Average (mean) | $45,450 | $21.85 |
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 | $3,040.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,520.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,403.46 |
| Weekly | $701.73 |
| Hourly | $17.54 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $47,530 | 39,920 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $37,080 | 2,210 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $36,670 | 1,840 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $36,370 | 1,190 |
| Yuma, AZ | $36,120 | 1,000 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $34,020 | 600 |
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 Arizona statewide figures.
Related jobs in Tucson, AZ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,690 | $15.24 |
| Bartender | $36,450 | $17.52 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $32,010 | $15.39 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,500 | $18.03 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,200 | $18.36 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,260 | $16.95 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,990 | $16.82 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,830 | $14.82 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $33,560 | $16.14 |
| Dishwasher | $33,490 | $16.10 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,620 | $18.09 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $49,990 | $24.04 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,090 | $17.35 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Tucson, AZ
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 Tucson, AZ?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Tucson, AZ metro area is $36,490 a year, or $17.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,520 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Tucson, AZ?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Tucson, AZ metro area earn at least $73,520 a year. The top 25% earn $56,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Tucson, AZ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,580 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $31,460 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Tucson, AZ?
About 7,300 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Tucson, AZ metro area, not counting the self-employed.