Waiters and Waitresses salary in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
Waiters and Waitresses in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn a median of $25,920 a year ($12.46 an hour), based on BLS data for 25,620 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,280 for the top 10%. That is 26% lower than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 2% higher than the Minnesota statewide median of $25,470. There are 13 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $31,300, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,260 | $11.18 |
| 25th percentile | $23,650 | $11.37 |
| Median | $25,920 | $12.46 |
| 75th percentile | $33,120 | $15.92 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,280 | $20.81 |
| Average (mean) | $31,300 | $15.05 |
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 | $2,160 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,080 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $996.92 |
| Weekly | $498.46 |
| Hourly | $12.46 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $25,920 salary, see how much house you can afford in Minnesota 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | $30,910 | 5,130 |
| Appleton, WI | $30,370 | 1,490 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $30,330 | 2,020 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $30,330 | 10,020 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $30,020 | 850 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $29,980 | 640 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $29,920 | 2,550 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $29,840 | 950 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $29,720 | 1,160 |
| Green Bay, WI | $29,610 | 2,170 |
| Kenosha, WI | $29,480 | 960 |
| Wausau, WI | $29,060 | 720 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $28,990 | 820 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $28,980 | 430 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $28,380 | 1,270 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $27,820 | 820 |
| Rochester, MN | $24,060 | 1,620 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $23,520 | 1,070 |
| Mankato, MN | $23,330 | 770 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $23,150 | 2,100 |
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 Minnesota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,040 | $15.89 |
| Bartender | $27,600 | $13.27 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,420 | $17.51 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $39,640 | $19.06 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,100 | $16.87 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,110 | $22.17 |
| Dishwasher | $34,940 | $16.80 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,600 | $14.71 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,380 | $14.13 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,830 | $21.55 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $36,380 | $17.49 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,240 | $30.40 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Cooks, All Other | $38,210 | $18.37 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area is $25,920 a year, or $12.46 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn at least $43,280 a year. The top 25% earn $33,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,260 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $23,650 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
About 25,620 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.