Waiters and Waitresses salary in West Virginia
Waiters and Waitresses in West Virginia earn a median of $35,380 a year ($17.01 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,600 workers.
Pay ranges from $20,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,560 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $35,230. West Virginia ranks 24th of 51 states for waiters and waitresses pay. There are 12 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $38,350, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in West Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,230 | $9.73 |
| 25th percentile | $22,800 | $10.96 |
| Median | $35,380 | $17.01 |
| 75th percentile | $47,430 | $22.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,560 | $29.11 |
| Average (mean) | $38,350 | $18.44 |
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 | $2,948.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,474.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,360.77 |
| Weekly | $680.38 |
| Hourly | $17.01 |
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 West Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $46,040 | 46,160 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $37,680 | 990 |
| Charleston, WV | $36,900 | 1,190 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $35,840 | 500 |
| Morgantown, WV | $35,480 | 1,040 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $35,290 | 610 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $34,470 | 1,320 |
| Beckley, WV | $33,650 | 650 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $30,740 | 880 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $30,690 | 1,720 |
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 West Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,070 | $12.54 |
| Bartender | $29,630 | $14.24 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,170 | $14.51 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,120 | $11.12 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,590 | $14.23 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $33,070 | $15.90 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $29,740 | $14.30 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $28,360 | $13.63 |
| Dishwasher | $26,460 | $12.72 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $24,420 | $11.74 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,150 | $13.05 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,440 | $13.19 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,100 | $29.38 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $21,640 | $10.40 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in West 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 West Virginia?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in West Virginia is $35,380 a year, or $17.01 an hour. Pay ranges from $20,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in West Virginia?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in West Virginia earn at least $60,560 a year. The top 25% earn $47,430 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in West Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $20,230 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $22,800 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in West Virginia?
About 8,600 waiters and waitresses are employed in West Virginia, not counting the self-employed.