Waiters and Waitresses Salary in New York
Median annual wage in New York: $47,020 +33.5% vs national
New York vs United States
| New York | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $47,020 | $35,230 |
| Median hourly | $22.61 | $16.94 |
| Employment | 142,940 | 2,270,910 |
| Location quotient | 1.01 | 1.00 |
Data source: BLS OES state file (New York) · U.S. BLS OES, May 2024 (updated April 2025)
A closer look
The mean wage of $54,750 sits 16.4% above the median — the typical worker earns close to the median, while a smaller group of higher earners pulls the average up.
Pay spans a wide range: workers at the 10th percentile earn about $33,540, while those at the 90th percentile earn about $83,210 — a 2.5x gap between entry-level and top earners.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average waiters and waitresses salary in New York?
The median annual wage in New York is $47,020 ($22.61 per hour), per BLS OES May 2024 data.
How does New York compare to the national average for waiters and waitresses?
The New York median of $47,020 is 33.5% higher than the U.S. median of $35,230.
How many waiters and waitresses work in New York?
Approximately 142,940 are employed in New York, per BLS OES.