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First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers vs. Waiters and Waitresses: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss out-earn Waiters and Waitressess by $9K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss land at $44,080 and Waiters and Waitressess at $35,230. The education gap is real: first-line supervisors of food preparation and serving worker programs typically require no formal educational credential, while waiters and waitress programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss is Washington ($59,400); for Waiters and Waitressess it's Hawaii ($62,390).

First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
Waiters and Waitresses
Median salary
$44,080
$35,230
Hourly rate
$21.19/hr
$16.94/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$29,940
$18,100
Senior level (90th %)
$65,570
$64,720
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
1,223,240
2,270,910
Job growth (10-year)
6%
N/A
Category
Food Service
Food Service
Top-paying state
Washington
Hawaii

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers median pay.

State
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
Waiters and Waitresses
Washington
$59,400
$56,130
District of Columbia
$57,170
$47,850
Connecticut
$52,940
$37,770
Colorado
$50,550
$44,860
Vermont
$49,820
$59,140
New Hampshire
$49,710
$38,430
Hawaii
$48,880
$62,390
New Jersey
$48,420
$44,960
Maine
$47,990
$43,370
New York
$47,190
$47,020
Oregon
$46,950
$48,410
Massachusetts
$46,600
$38,460
Virginia
$45,550
$44,760
Arizona
$40,550
$43,950
Michigan
$37,940
$37,760

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss or Waiters and Waitressess?

First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss earn more nationally. The median is $44,080 for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss versus $35,230 for Waiters and Waitressess, a difference of $9K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers or Waiters and Waitresses?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers or Waiters and Waitresses?

First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers typically requires no formal educational credential. Waiters and Waitresses requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss at $59,400/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers vs. Waiters and Waitresses pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss earn $59,400 vs. $56,130 for Waiters and Waitressess. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers salary breakdownView →Full Waiters and Waitresses salary breakdownView →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Waiters and Waitressess by take-home payExplore →How to become a first-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workersGuide →How to become a waiters and waitressesGuide →