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 (107.2) | $77,011 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $61,620 | Average (100.8) | $61,159 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $56,730 | Average (97.9) | $57,931 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $54,870 | Average (99.3) | $55,251 |
| Bellingham, WA | $56,700 | Above avg (104.0) | $54,513 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $60,250 | Above avg (111.4) | $54,073 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $51,460 | Average (98.9) | $52,040 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $55,270 | Above avg (107.4) | $51,452 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $54,780 | Above avg (106.7) | $51,333 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $57,280 | Above avg (112.7) | $50,811 |
| Binghamton, NY | $46,600 | Below avg (92.1) | $50,603 |
| Yakima, WA | $49,060 | Average (97.9) | $50,111 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $53,060 | Above avg (105.9) | $50,109 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $48,980 | Average (98.2) | $49,889 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $53,000 | Above avg (106.4) | $49,831 |