Waiters and Waitresses Salary Trend (2011–2024)
Historical salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Median Salary in 2024
$33,760
↑ 81.8% since 2011
Median Salary Over Time
Waiters and Waitresses — Median Annual Salary
Employment Over Time
Waiters and Waitresses — Total Employment
Key Insights
📈Salaries grew 81.8% since 2011 ($18,570 → $33,760)
🏆Peak year: 2024 at $33,760
🦠COVID impact: Salary rose 3.7% from 2019 to 2020, likely reflecting workforce composition changes.
💰After inflation (~3%/yr), real growth is approximately +24%
Year-by-Year Salary Data
| Year | Median Salary | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $33,760 | +5.7% |
| 2023 | $31,940 | +9.7% |
| 2022 | $29,120 | +12.0% |
| 2021 | $26,000 | +9.5% |
| 2020 | $23,740 | +3.7% |
| 2019 | $22,890 | +5.1% |
| 2018 | $21,780 | +4.6% |
| 2017 | $20,820 | +4.2% |
| 2016 | $19,990 | +3.8% |
| 2015 | $19,250 | +2.8% |
| 2014 | $18,730 | +0.8% |
| 2013 | $18,590 | +0.3% |
| 2012 | $18,540 | -0.2% |
| 2011 | $18,570 | — |
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2011–2024. All figures are annual median wages in nominal dollars.