Waiters and Waitresses salary in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Waiters and Waitresses in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median of $36,170 a year ($17.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 19,590 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,650 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 2% lower than the Maryland statewide median of $36,750. There are 14 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $43,030, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,980 | $15.38 |
| Median | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| 75th percentile | $47,460 | $22.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,650 | $29.16 |
| Average (mean) | $43,030 | $20.69 |
Half of waiters and waitresses earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,014.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,507.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,391.15 |
| Weekly | $695.58 |
| Hourly | $17.39 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $36,170 salary, see how much house you can afford in Maryland at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $46,040 | 46,160 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $36,570 | 41,900 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $35,550 | 1,020 |
| Salisbury, MD | $35,080 | 690 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $34,470 | 1,320 |
Highest-paying states for waiters and waitresses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $62,390 |
| Vermont | $59,140 |
| Washington | $56,130 |
| Oregon | $48,410 |
| District of Columbia | $47,850 |
| New York | $47,020 |
| New Jersey | $44,960 |
| Colorado | $44,860 |
| Virginia | $44,760 |
| Arizona | $43,950 |
See Waiters and Waitresses pay in every state or the Maryland statewide figures.
Related jobs in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,090 | $15.91 |
| Bartender | $37,360 | $17.96 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,710 | $17.17 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,760 | $18.63 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,420 | $17.99 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,080 | $16.87 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $37,540 | $18.05 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,290 | $16.01 |
| Dishwasher | $33,280 | $16.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $37,390 | $17.98 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,460 | $17.53 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $59,290 | $28.50 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $39,310 | $18.90 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiters and waitresses make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $36,170 a year, or $17.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,650 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn at least $60,650 a year. The top 25% earn $47,460 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $31,980 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
About 19,590 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area, not counting the self-employed.