Waiters and Waitresses pay in Washington
In Washington, the median pay for waiters and waitresses is $26.98 an hour ($56,130 a year). About 45,400 people work in this job there.
That is 59% higher than the U.S. median ($35,230). Washington ranks 3rd of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Washington
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $17.65 | $36,710 |
| 25% of workers | $22.07 | $45,910 |
| Half of workers (median) | $26.98 | $56,130 |
| 75% of workers | $35.50 | $73,840 |
| 90% of workers | $45.64 | $94,930 |
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Washington metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $57,280 | 26,530 |
| Walla Walla | $56,730 | 340 |
| Bellingham | $56,700 | 1,450 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $55,270 | 1,370 |
| Longview-Kelso | $54,870 | 410 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $53,060 | 830 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $53,000 | 1,410 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $51,460 | 1,510 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $49,820 | 960 |
| Yakima | $49,060 | 1,000 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $48,560 | 3,420 |
Washington unemployment rate: 4.9% (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 Washington
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $37,710 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $59,400 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $40,910 |
| Bartenders | $55,830 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $37,270 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $38,870 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $41,420 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,760 |
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.