Waiters and Waitresses · Arizona

Waiters and Waitresses Salary in Arizona

Waiters and Waitresses in Arizona earn a median annual wage of $43,950 —24.8% above the national median of $35,230. That ranks AZ #10 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$43,950
Median hourly
$21.13
Entry level (P10)
$30,580
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$78,920
90th percentile
Employment
55,950
17.3 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+24.8%
U.S. $35,230

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$30,580
$33,850
$43,950
$63,020
$30,580$43,950$78,920
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $43,950.

Employment is 1.18× as concentrated as the national average, making Arizona a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for waiters and waitresses

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Arizona is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Hawaii$62,390$29.9914,0901.54
2Vermont$59,140$28.434,0400.91
3Washington$56,130$26.9845,4000.88
4Oregon$48,410$23.2723,0400.80
5District of Columbia$47,850$23.0111,5301.12
6New York$47,020$22.61142,9401.01
7New Jersey$44,960$21.6255,8000.89
8Colorado$44,860$21.5740,6800.97
9Virginia$44,760$21.5259,3700.99
10Arizona$43,950$21.1355,9501.18

Related occupations in Arizona

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Arizona.

OccupationArizona medianU.S. median
Fast Food and Counter Workers$34,230$31,200
Cooks, Restaurant$38,670$37,390
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$40,550$44,080
Food Preparation Workers$36,750$35,320
Bartenders$45,070$34,340
Cooks, Fast Food$32,660$30,890

Frequently asked questions

How much do waiters and waitresses make in Arizona?

The median annual wage for waiters and waitresses in Arizona is $43,950, or $21.13 per hour. That is 24.8% above the national median of $35,230.

What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Arizona?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $30,580 per year ($14.70/hour). The 25th percentile is $33,850.

How many people work as waiters and waitresses in Arizona?

About 55,950 people work in this occupation in Arizona, or 17.3 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Arizona a good state for waiters and waitresses?

Arizona ranks #10 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.18x as concentrated as the national average, making Arizona a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays waiters and waitresses the most?

Hawaii has the highest median wage at $62,390 per year, followed by Vermont ($59,140) and Washington ($56,130).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes