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Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other vs. Waiters and Waitresses: Who Earns More?

Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other out-earn Waiters and Waitresses by $610 a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other land at $35,840 and Waiters and Waitresses at $35,230. The education gap is real: food preparation and serving related workers, all other programs typically require no formal educational credential, while waiters and waitress programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other is Nebraska ($46,170); for Waiters and Waitresses it's Hawaii ($62,390).

Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other
Waiters and Waitresses
Median salary
$35,840
$35,230
Hourly rate
$17.23/hr
$16.94/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$25,470
$18,100
Senior level (90th %)
$47,550
$64,720
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
84,630
2,270,910
Job growth (10-year)
6.4%
-0.7%
Category
Food Service
Food Service
Top-paying state
Nebraska
Hawaii

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other median pay.

State
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other
Waiters and Waitresses
Hawaii
$43,540
$62,390
Oregon
$39,080
$48,410
District of Columbia
$38,580
$47,850
New Hampshire
$38,210
$38,430
Arizona
$37,600
$43,950
Connecticut
$36,320
$37,770
New Jersey
$36,290
$44,960
New Mexico
$36,250
$36,920
Virginia
$35,870
$44,760
Colorado
$35,710
$44,860
Massachusetts
$35,300
$38,460
Michigan
$35,100
$37,760
Washington
$34,650
$56,130
New York
$34,340
$47,020
Vermont
$32,420
$59,140

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other or Waiters and Waitresses?

Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other earn more nationally. The median is $35,840 for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other versus $35,230 for Waiters and Waitresses, a difference of $610. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other or Waiters and Waitresses?

Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other has the better 10-year outlook at 6.4% projected growth, compared to -0.7% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other or Waiters and Waitresses?

Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other 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 Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other get paid the most?

Nebraska is the top-paying state for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other at $46,170/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other vs. Waiters and Waitresses pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Hawaii, Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other earn $43,540 vs. $62,390 for Waiters and Waitresses. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salary breakdownView →Full Waiters and Waitresses salary breakdownView →Best cities for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Waiters and Waitresses by take-home payExplore →How to become a food preparation and serving related workers, all otherGuide →How to become a waiters and waitressesGuide →