Waiters and Waitresses pay in New York
In New York, the median pay for waiters and waitresses is $22.61 an hour ($47,020 a year). About 142,940 people work in this job there.
That is 33% higher than the U.S. median ($35,230). New York ranks 6th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in New York
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $16.12 | $33,540 |
| 25% of workers | $16.60 | $34,520 |
| Half of workers (median) | $22.61 | $47,020 |
| 75% of workers | $31.00 | $64,480 |
| 90% of workers | $40.01 | $83,210 |
Waiters and Waitresses pay in New York metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $48,980 | 6,310 |
| Syracuse | $47,640 | 3,430 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $47,610 | 138,720 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh | $46,950 | 3,930 |
| Binghamton | $46,600 | 1,390 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $46,580 | 7,990 |
| Kingston | $46,440 | 1,280 |
| Elmira | $46,160 | 480 |
| Ithaca | $46,090 | 620 |
| Utica-Rome | $45,950 | 1,790 |
| Rochester | $45,310 | 6,070 |
| Glens Falls | $43,900 | 990 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum | $38,590 | 710 |
New York unemployment rate: 4.3% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for waiters and waitresses
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: None (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +2% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 423,100 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in New York
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $35,250 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $47,190 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $35,610 |
| Bartenders | $61,210 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,740 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,490 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,550 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $39,370 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.