National Salary Info » Waiters and Waitresses

Highest Paying Industries for Waiters and Waitresses

The top 100 highest paying industries for waiters and waitresses (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment in those industries are also shown. As shown in the table, with an average annual salary of $22,970, scenic and sightseeing transportation, land is the highest paying industry for waiters and waitresses. It is followed by scenic and sightseeing transportation industry (average annual salary $22,520). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2015 [1]. For more information about salaries of waiters and waitresses in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

Table 1. 100 Highest Paying Industries for Waiters and Waitresses

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land	$22,970	$18,020	290
2	Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation	$22,520	$17,400	1,140
3	Transportation and Warehousing	$22,260	$17,340	1,170
4	Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water	$22,090	$17,220	850
5	Casino Hotels	$22,050	$16,760	25,320
6	Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers	$21,790	$17,570	230
7	Finance and Insurance	$21,450	$17,090	120
8	Nonstore Retailers	$21,060	$17,540	n/a
9	Vending Machine Operators	$20,910	$17,470	n/a
10	Special Food Services	$20,840	$16,980	61,010
11	Hospitals - Privately owned	$20,730	$16,750	310
12	Hospitals (including private, state, and local government hospitals)	$20,730	$16,750	310
13	Temporary Help Services	$20,690	$17,050	13,820
14	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals - Privately owned	$20,630	$16,740	300
15	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals	$20,630	$16,740	300
16	Land Subdivision	$20,430	$16,280	90
17	Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction	$20,430	$16,280	90
18	Other Support Services	$19,950	$16,730	510
19	Ambulatory Health Care Services	$19,850	$17,060	120
20	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - State government owned	$19,810	$16,590	110
21	Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers	$19,780	$16,810	9,080
22	Beverage Manufacturing	$19,610	$16,930	4,190
23	Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing	$19,610	$16,930	4,190
24	Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions	$19,600	$16,510	1,380
25	Other Personal Services	$19,550	$16,890	410
26	Insurance Carriers	$19,530	$16,950	40
27	Insurance Carriers and Related Activities	$19,530	$16,950	40
28	Administrative and Support Services	$19,500	$16,830	20,230
29	Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	$19,500	$16,830	20,230
30	Employment Services	$19,480	$16,820	19,180
31	Manufacturing	$19,400	$16,840	5,140
32	Department Stores	$19,350	$16,630	190
33	Religious Organizations	$19,340	$16,680	200
34	Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations	$19,320	$16,790	1,200
35	Personal and Laundry Services	$19,220	$16,860	550
36	Traveler Accommodation	$19,190	$16,720	137,460
37	Other Amusement and Recreation Industries	$19,190	$16,610	67,390
38	Accommodation	$19,180	$16,710	138,330
39	Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing	$19,150	$16,960	640
40	Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government)	$19,120	$16,530	15,650
41	Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations	$19,110	$16,520	15,090
42	Food Manufacturing	$19,110	$16,910	670
43	Civic and Social Organizations	$19,090	$16,490	13,620
44	Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries	$19,090	$16,610	84,110
45	Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation	$19,050	$16,600	91,530
46	Educational Services - State government owned	$18,990	$16,780	140
47	Local government, including schools and hospitals	$18,980	$16,720	13,200
48	Public sector -- Federal, state, and local government, including government owned schools and hospit	$18,980	$16,700	13,560
49	General Merchandise Stores	$18,970	$16,790	670
50	Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly	$18,960	$16,650	16,270
51	Health Care and Social Assistance	$18,960	$16,660	18,870
52	Nursing and Residential Care Facilities	$18,950	$16,660	18,320
53	Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services	$18,940	$17,040	270
54	Social Assistance	$18,930	$16,980	130
55	Educational Services - Privately owned	$18,910	$16,370	640
56	Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities)	$18,900	$16,720	1,910
57	Educational Services	$18,900	$16,470	880
58	Management of Companies and Enterprises	$18,880	$16,680	1,740
59	Gambling Industries	$18,870	$16,510	13,530
60	Lessors of Real Estate	$18,870	$16,460	2,470
61	Other General Merchandise Stores	$18,870	$16,850	n/a
62	Personal Care Services	$18,840	$16,820	140
63	Real Estate	$18,800	$16,480	3,100
64	Real Estate and Rental and Leasing	$18,800	$16,480	3,100
65	Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events	$18,790	$16,370	1,110
66	Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	$18,790	$16,300	620
67	Accommodation and Food Services	$18,710	$16,450	2,272,680
68	Full-Service Restaurants	$18,680	$16,440	1,897,510
69	Food Services and Drinking Places	$18,680	$16,440	2,134,350
70	Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)	$18,670	$16,450	1,800
71	Grocery Stores	$18,670	$16,440	1,280
72	Restaurants and Other Eating Places	$18,660	$16,430	2,009,980
73	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - Privately owned	$18,660	$16,250	500
74	Construction	$18,650	$15,970	340
75	Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation)	$18,640	$16,340	2,010
76	Federal, State, and Local Government	$18,640	$16,340	2,010
77	Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services	$18,610	$17,460	470
78	Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods	$18,610	$17,350	90
79	Spectator Sports	$18,600	$16,480	1,710
80	Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries	$18,600	$16,540	6,050
81	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$18,600	$17,390	530
82	Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers	$18,600	$17,050	90
83	Activities Related to Real Estate	$18,570	$16,530	550
84	Food and Beverage Stores	$18,550	$16,380	2,110
85	RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps	$18,530	$16,340	530
86	Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers	$18,530	$17,150	30
87	State government, including schools and hospitals	$18,520	$15,930	340
88	Information	$18,500	$16,280	1,440
89	Furniture Stores	$18,500	$16,210	40
90	Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)	$18,480	$16,230	63,360
91	Performing Arts Companies	$18,460	$16,570	2,980
92	Miscellaneous Store Retailers	$18,460	$16,610	420
93	Motion Picture and Video Exhibition	$18,450	$16,260	1,350
94	Motion Picture and Video Industries	$18,450	$16,260	1,350
95	Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries	$18,450	$16,260	1,350
96	Wholesale Trade	$18,440	$16,700	290
97	Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters	$18,430	$16,560	2,920
98	Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores	$18,430	$16,990	n/a
99	Specialty Food Stores	$18,370	$16,120	670
100	Amusement Parks and Arcades	$18,340	$16,790	3,180