Waiters and Waitresses Salary in Rochester, MN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Rochester, MN

Median annual salary $23,580 -30.2% vs national
Median hourly $11.34
10th percentile $22,570
90th percentile $34,430
Employed locally 1,700
National median $33,760

Compare Waiters and Waitresses salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Rochester, MN stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Waiters and Waitresses
in
Rochester, MN
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $22,570
    25th
    $23,170
    50th (median)
    $23,580
    75th
    $27,550
    90th
    $34,430

    Rochester economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $89,675 2023 • Census ACS
    Waiters and Waitresses salary vs area income 26% Median Waiters and Waitresses salary is 74% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Waiters and Waitresses

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $71,920
    Burlington-South Burlington, VT $66,350
    Vermont $60,910
    Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $60,840
    Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $53,460
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $48,760

    Nearby metros — Waiters and Waitresses salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Sioux Falls, SD-MN $30,230
    Fargo, ND-MN $29,210
    La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN $28,960
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $25,620
    Grand Forks, ND-MN $23,810
    St. Cloud, MN $22,990

    Related occupations in Rochester, MN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $30,720
    Cooks, Restaurant $37,920
    Bartenders $25,890
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $45,780
    Food Preparation Workers $35,380
    Food Servers, Nonrestaurant $35,750

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Waiters and Waitresses make per hour in Rochester?

    The median hourly wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Rochester, MN is $11.34, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $19.19 or more per hour.

    Is Rochester above or below average for Waiters and Waitresses salaries?

    The median Waiters and Waitresses salary in Rochester, MN is 30.2% below the national median of $33,760. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Waiters and Waitresses in Rochester?

    Entry-level Waiters and Waitresses (10th percentile) earn around $22,570 per year in Rochester, MN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $23,170.