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SOC 35-3031·Food Preparation & Serving
Waiters and Waitresses
Median wage
$47,783
10-yr outlook
+12.2%by 2032
Openings / year
24,399
Workers in NY
140,890
How pay grows with experience
Waiters and Waitresses — typical pay by experience
Annual wages statewide: starting out, typical (median), and experienced.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Starting out (entry) | $33,611 |
| Median (typical) | $47,783 |
| Experienced | $65,511 |
Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (NYSDOL / U.S. BLS via data.ny.gov)
Where it pays most across New York
Median pay for this occupation by region. Select a region for its full profile.
Waiters and Waitresses — median pay by region
Regional median annual wage, highest first.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| New York City | $49,096 |
| Central New York | $48,689 |
| Capital Region | $48,131 |
| Mohawk Valley | $47,970 |
| Western New York | $47,882 |
| Hudson Valley | $47,599 |
| Southern Tier | $46,756 |
| Finger Lakes | $46,255 |
| Long Island | $45,073 |
| North Country | $41,883 |
Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (NYSDOL / U.S. BLS via data.ny.gov)
A realistic next step
Higher-paying roles in the same field
Jobs in the same field (Food Preparation & Serving) that pay more than this one. A plain “same field, higher pay” guide — not a skills-match score.
Ways in
Lower-paying roles in the same field
Jobs in the same field (Food Preparation & Serving) that pay less than this one — often earlier-career roles or a way in.
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$46,442 median (−$1,341) · +22.1% by 2032
- Cooks, All Other$43,414 median (−$4,369)
- Cooks, Restaurant$41,024 median (−$6,759) · +20.5% by 2032
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$39,090 median (−$8,693) · +23.1% by 2032
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$38,126 median (−$9,657) · +21.1% by 2032
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$37,826 median (−$9,957) · +21.4% by 2032
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