Waiters and Waitresses
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Waiters and Waitresses in the United States earn a median salary of $35,230 per year — about $17 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 2.3M people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of -1%.
AI & Automation Risk
While AI and automation are increasingly handling digital tasks like order-taking and payments via kiosks or mobile apps, the core of the job remains physical and interpersonal. The physical requirements of carrying trays, clearing tables, and providing real-time human hospitality in a dynamic environment create a significant barrier to full AI replacement.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HIBEST VALUE | $82,550 | Above avg (109.4) | $75,462 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $61,620 | Average (100.9) | $61,041 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $56,730 | Average (98.5) | $57,583 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $54,870 | Average (97.5) | $56,251 |
| Bellingham, WA | $56,700 | Above avg (103.3) | $54,871 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $60,250 | Above avg (111.0) | $54,298 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $55,270 | Above avg (105.6) | $52,336 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $54,780 | Above avg (105.4) | $51,963 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $53,060 | Average (102.4) | $51,795 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $57,280 | Above avg (111.1) | $51,542 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $51,460 | Average (100.1) | $51,419 |
| Yakima, WA | $49,060 | Below avg (95.5) | $51,348 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $53,000 | Above avg (103.7) | $51,124 |
| Binghamton, NY | $46,600 | Below avg (92.9) | $50,181 |
| Grants Pass, OR | $48,950 | Average (97.8) | $50,072 |