Waiters and Waitresses Salary in Watertown, NY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Watertown-Fort Drum, NY

Median annual salary $40,720 +20.6% vs national
Median hourly $19.58
10th percentile $31,200
90th percentile $73,780
Employed locally 860
National median $33,760

Compare Waiters and Waitresses salary & buying power

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

Full tool →
Waiters and Waitresses
in
Watertown, NY
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,200
    25th
    $32,020
    50th (median)
    $40,720
    75th
    $57,790
    90th
    $73,780

    Watertown economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $64,978 2023 • Census ACS
    Waiters and Waitresses salary vs area income 63% Median Waiters and Waitresses salary is 37% 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
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $48,110
    Syracuse, NY $47,830
    Binghamton, NY $47,650
    Utica-Rome, NY $47,380
    Kingston, NY $46,860
    Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $46,820

    Related occupations in Watertown, NY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$31,800
    Cooks, Restaurant$36,480
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$38,130
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$33,710
    Bartenders$37,020
    Food Preparation Workers$33,070

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Watertown, NY is $19.58, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $36.55 or more per hour.

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

    The median Waiters and Waitresses salary in Watertown, NY is 20.6% 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 Watertown?

    Entry-level Waiters and Waitresses (10th percentile) earn around $31,200 per year in Watertown, NY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $32,020.