Waiters and Waitresses salary in Virginia
Waiters and Waitresses in Virginia earn a median of $44,760 a year ($21.52 an hour), based on BLS data for 59,370 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,130 for the top 10%. That is 27% higher than the national median of $35,230. Virginia ranks 9th of 51 states for waiters and waitresses pay. There are 14 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $46,680, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,270 | $13.59 |
| 25th percentile | $32,760 | $15.75 |
| Median | $44,760 | $21.52 |
| 75th percentile | $56,430 | $27.13 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,130 | $35.64 |
| Average (mean) | $46,680 | $22.44 |
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 | $3,730 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,865 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,721.54 |
| Weekly | $860.77 |
| Hourly | $21.52 |
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 Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $46,040 | 46,160 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $44,760 | 1,150 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $44,030 | 2,140 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $39,020 | 13,100 |
| Richmond, VA | $38,470 | 9,120 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $37,910 | 690 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $37,680 | 990 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $37,670 | 1,080 |
| Roanoke, VA | $37,380 | 2,220 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $36,780 | 1,410 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $28,210 | 1,800 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $30,110 | $14.48 |
| Bartender | $47,070 | $22.63 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,550 | $21.90 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,900 | $16.78 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| Dishwasher | $33,130 | $15.93 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $32,410 | $15.58 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,890 | $18.22 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,490 | $14.66 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,270 | $30.42 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,870 | $17.25 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in Virginia is $44,760 a year, or $21.52 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Virginia?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in Virginia earn at least $74,130 a year. The top 25% earn $56,430 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,270 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $32,760 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Virginia?
About 59,370 waiters and waitresses are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.