Waiters and Waitresses · Ohio

Waiters and Waitresses Salary in Ohio

Waiters and Waitresses in Ohio earn a median annual wage of $36,700 —4.2% above the national median of $35,230. That ranks OH #19 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$36,700
Median hourly
$17.65
Entry level (P10)
$23,820
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$63,740
90th percentile
Employment
77,250
13.9 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+4.2%
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
$23,820
$28,990
$36,700
$48,170
$23,820$36,700$63,740
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $36,700.

Employment concentration (0.95×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for waiters and waitresses

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Ohio 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 Ohio

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Ohio.

OccupationOhio medianU.S. median
Fast Food and Counter Workers$28,430$31,200
Cooks, Restaurant$35,540$37,390
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$37,340$44,080
Food Preparation Workers$34,530$35,320
Bartenders$30,880$34,340
Cooks, Fast Food$26,870$30,890

Frequently asked questions

How much do waiters and waitresses make in Ohio?

The median annual wage for waiters and waitresses in Ohio is $36,700, or $17.65 per hour. That is 4.2% above the national median of $35,230.

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

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $23,820 per year ($11.45/hour). The 25th percentile is $28,990.

How many people work as waiters and waitresses in Ohio?

About 77,250 people work in this occupation in Ohio, or 13.9 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Ohio a good state for waiters and waitresses?

Ohio ranks #19 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (0.95x) is close to the national average.

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