Waiters and Waitresses Salary in Trenton, NJ

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Trenton-Princeton, NJ

Median annual salary $37,360 +10.7% vs national
Median hourly $17.96
10th percentile $31,470
90th percentile $74,500
Employed locally 2,200
National median $33,760

Compare Waiters and Waitresses salary & buying power

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

Full tool →
Waiters and Waitresses
in
Trenton, NJ
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,470
    25th
    $33,470
    50th (median)
    $37,360
    75th
    $54,370
    90th
    $74,500

    Trenton economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $96,333 2023 • Census ACS
    Waiters and Waitresses salary vs area income 39% Median Waiters and Waitresses salary is 61% 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
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $45,010
    Vineland, NJ $36,410
    Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $36,350
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $35,900
    Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $31,470

    Related occupations in Trenton, NJ

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $33,620
    Cooks, Restaurant $37,530
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $45,930
    Food Preparation Workers $35,050
    Bartenders $44,740
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $33,890

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Trenton, NJ is $17.96, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $34.70 or more per hour.

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

    The median Waiters and Waitresses salary in Trenton, NJ is 10.7% above 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 Trenton?

    Entry-level Waiters and Waitresses (10th percentile) earn around $31,470 per year in Trenton, NJ. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $33,470.