Waiters and Waitresses salary in Tulsa, OK
Waiters and Waitresses in the Tulsa, OK metro area earn a median of $18,350 a year ($8.82 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,460 workers.
Pay ranges from $16,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,100 for the top 10%. That is 48% lower than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 2% higher than the Oklahoma statewide median of $17,910. There are 16 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $26,450, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Tulsa, OK
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,200 | $7.79 |
| 25th percentile | $16,740 | $8.05 |
| Median | $18,350 | $8.82 |
| 75th percentile | $29,800 | $14.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,100 | $23.13 |
| Average (mean) | $26,450 | $12.71 |
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 | $1,529.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $764.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $705.77 |
| Weekly | $352.88 |
| Hourly | $8.82 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $23,680 | 1,410 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $18,200 | 11,560 |
| Lawton, OK | $17,150 | 700 |
| Enid, OK | $16,650 | 390 |
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 Oklahoma statewide figures.
Related jobs in Tulsa, OK
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,460 | $12.72 |
| Bartender | $27,450 | $13.20 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,430 | $14.63 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,900 | $17.74 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $33,410 | $16.06 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,100 | $13.51 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $30,750 | $14.79 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,370 | $14.60 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $24,960 | $12.00 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,700 | $13.32 |
| Dishwasher | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $54,930 | $26.41 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,380 | $17.01 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $31,600 | $15.19 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Tulsa, OK
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 Tulsa, OK?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Tulsa, OK metro area is $18,350 a year, or $8.82 an hour. Pay ranges from $16,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Tulsa, OK?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Tulsa, OK metro area earn at least $48,100 a year. The top 25% earn $29,800 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Tulsa, OK?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $16,200 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $16,740 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Tulsa, OK?
About 7,460 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Tulsa, OK metro area, not counting the self-employed.