Waiters and Waitresses salary in Utah
Waiters and Waitresses in Utah earn a median of $31,150 a year ($14.98 an hour), based on BLS data for 17,790 workers.
Pay ranges from $18,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,320 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $35,230. Utah ranks 29th of 51 states for waiters and waitresses pay. There are 10 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.70). The average (mean) salary is $37,360, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Utah
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,550 | $8.92 |
| 25th percentile | $22,470 | $10.80 |
| Median | $31,150 | $14.98 |
| 75th percentile | $48,330 | $23.24 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,320 | $29.00 |
| Average (mean) | $37,360 | $17.96 |
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 | $2,595.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,297.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,198.08 |
| Weekly | $599.04 |
| Hourly | $14.98 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in cities in Utah
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Ogden, UT | $34,570 | 2,620 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $32,320 | 7,670 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $30,490 | 2,340 |
| Logan, UT-ID | $30,350 | 650 |
| St. George, UT | $30,260 | 1,390 |
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 |
Related jobs in Utah
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,670 | $13.78 |
| Bartender | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,170 | $14.51 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,750 | $18.63 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,540 | $16.12 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,490 | $17.55 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,200 | $18.36 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,610 | $14.24 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,010 | $12.99 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $31,800 | $15.29 |
| Dishwasher | $31,830 | $15.30 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $59,060 | $28.39 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,010 | $18.27 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $37,180 | $17.87 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Utah
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 Utah?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in Utah is $31,150 a year, or $14.98 an hour. Pay ranges from $18,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Utah?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in Utah earn at least $60,320 a year. The top 25% earn $48,330 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Utah?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $18,550 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $22,470 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Utah?
About 17,790 waiters and waitresses are employed in Utah, not counting the self-employed.