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Waiters and Waitresses Salary in New York

What Waiters and Waitresses earn in New York, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 12 counties.

Average in NY
$47,178
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
3 of 36
published states
Workers in state
181,270
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
2
12 counties

Pay by labor market in New York

Waiters and Waitresses pay by wage area in New York
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$47,610$38,370−$2,516Kings County, NY
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY$46,580$37,599$15,025Erie County, NY

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Waiters and Waitresses in New York counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1Erie County, NY$46,580$37,599$15,025
2Niagara County, NY$46,580$37,599$15,025
3Suffolk County, NY$47,610$38,370$2,812
4Nassau County, NY$47,610$38,370$2,812
5Kings County, NY$47,610$38,370−$2,516
6Queens County, NY$47,610$38,370−$2,516
7New York County, NY$47,610$38,370−$2,516
8Bronx County, NY$47,610$38,370−$2,516
9Westchester County, NY$47,610$38,370−$2,516
10Richmond County, NY$47,610$38,370−$2,516
11Rockland County, NY$47,610$38,370−$2,516
12Putnam County, NY$47,610$38,370−$2,516

Waiters and Waitresses pay in New York

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Waiters and Waitresses in New York is $47,178, based on 181,270 workers. Among the 36 states with published data, that ranks number 3. The BLS national median for the occupation is $35,230, so New York averages 33.9% above it.

Inside New York, pay depends on the labor market. The highest local median is $47,610 in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area and the lowest is $46,580 in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY, a difference of $1,030 across 2 wage areas.

Cost of living for Waiters and Waitresses in New York

We compare 12 New York counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. Erie County, NY leaves the largest yearly margin, $15,025. In Putnam County, NY the basics cost $2,516 more than take-home pay. The median wage covers all four basics in 4 of the 12 counties.

Waiters and Waitresses in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Waiters and Waitresses are Washington ($54,839), Oregon ($50,502), District of Columbia ($46,040) and New Jersey ($44,450).

Frequently asked questions: Waiters and Waitresses in New York

How much do Waiters and Waitresses earn in New York?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $47,178, from $46,580 to $47,610 depending on the labor market.

Which New York county is best for Waiters and Waitresses?

Erie County, NY leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics ($15,025). Niagara County, NY follows at $15,025.