Waiters and Waitresses salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median of $57,280 a year ($27.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 26,530 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,940 for the top 10%. That is 63% higher than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 2% higher than the Washington statewide median of $56,130. There are 13 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $62,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,730 | $17.66 |
| 25th percentile | $46,460 | $22.34 |
| Median | $57,280 | $27.54 |
| 75th percentile | $77,690 | $37.35 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,940 | $46.13 |
| Average (mean) | $62,940 | $30.26 |
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 | $4,773.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,386.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,203.08 |
| Weekly | $1,101.54 |
| Hourly | $27.54 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $57,280 salary, see how much house you can afford in Washington 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Walla Walla, WA | $56,730 | 340 |
| Bellingham, WA | $56,700 | 1,450 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $55,270 | 1,370 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $54,870 | 410 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $54,780 | 13,910 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $53,060 | 830 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $53,000 | 1,410 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $51,460 | 1,510 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $49,820 | 960 |
| Yakima, WA | $49,060 | 1,000 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $48,560 | 3,420 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $36,240 | 310 |
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 Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $39,150 | $18.82 |
| Bartender | $58,180 | $27.97 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $40,640 | $19.54 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $47,730 | $22.95 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $61,610 | $29.62 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $43,830 | $21.07 |
| Dishwasher | $42,750 | $20.55 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $38,430 | $18.48 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $51,530 | $24.77 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $44,030 | $21.17 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $80,330 | $38.62 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $45,120 | $21.69 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $50,870 | $24.46 |
| Cooks, All Other | $53,910 | $25.92 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $57,280 a year, or $27.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn at least $95,940 a year. The top 25% earn $77,690 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,730 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $46,460 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
About 26,530 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.