Waiters and Waitresses salary in Washington
Waiters and Waitresses in Washington earn a median of $56,130 a year ($26.98 an hour), based on BLS data for 45,400 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $94,930 for the top 10%. That is 59% higher than the national median of $35,230. Washington ranks 3rd of 51 states for waiters and waitresses pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 13 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $60,590, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,710 | $17.65 |
| 25th percentile | $45,910 | $22.07 |
| Median | $56,130 | $26.98 |
| 75th percentile | $73,840 | $35.50 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,930 | $45.64 |
| Average (mean) | $60,590 | $29.13 |
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 | $4,677.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,338.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,158.85 |
| Weekly | $1,079.42 |
| Hourly | $26.98 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $57,280 | 26,530 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $56,730 | 340 |
| Bellingham, WA | $56,700 | 1,450 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $55,270 | 1,370 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $54,870 | 410 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $54,780 | 13,910 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $53,060 | 830 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $53,000 | 1,410 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $51,460 | 1,510 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $49,820 | 960 |
| Yakima, WA | $49,060 | 1,000 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $48,560 | 3,420 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $36,240 | 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 |
Related jobs in Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $37,710 | $18.13 |
| Bartender | $55,830 | $26.84 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $38,870 | $18.69 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $46,800 | $22.50 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $59,400 | $28.56 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $40,910 | $19.67 |
| Dishwasher | $40,080 | $19.27 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $49,670 | $23.88 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $37,270 | $17.92 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $39,120 | $18.81 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $41,420 | $19.91 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $76,010 | $36.54 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,760 | $20.56 |
| Cooks, All Other | $52,510 | $25.25 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in Washington is $56,130 a year, or $26.98 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $94,930 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Washington?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in Washington earn at least $94,930 a year. The top 25% earn $73,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,710 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $45,910 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Washington?
About 45,400 waiters and waitresses are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.