Despite the fact that it is a job which requires a lot of walking, there are many advantages of becoming a waitress. One doesn´t need much training and only basic maths and literacy skills are required. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics about half of all waiters and waitresses worked part-time in the year 2012. The job offers variable hours and shifts which makes it possible working around other commitments, such as child care or school. Even though salaries vary widely, tips can be a good bonus on top of it.
Minimum Wages
$2.13, that´s the federal minimum wage for a waitress per hour since 1991, according to an article which was published by Bloomberg News in April 2013. The American Department of Labor notes that each state has three options to pay tipped employees including waitresses. The first option is that the state only pays the minimum wage of $2.13. The next option is that a state can pay a salary above the minimum cash wage. The third option is that the higher of state minimum wage, or the federal minimum wage in case where the state wage is higher than federal wage. If a state only pays the federal minimum for waiters and waitresses, a full-time waitress must at least earn as little as $369 monthly which is excluding tips.
Average Pay per Month
In 2013 the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that waitresses and waiters earned an average annual income of $20,880. This means the average monthly income would be $1,740. Most waiters and waitresses earned between $16,300 and $29,810 a year. The ones on the low end of that scale earned $1,358 and for the ones on the high end the monthly pay would be $2,431. However, waitresses can earn a lot more than that depending on the tips they receive. The amount of tips one can earn depend on the restaurant type, how high the costumer´s bill is and how many people a waitress serves during his or her shift.
Work Setting Variables
The BLS announced that in 2013 most waitresses were employed in restaurants, where the average monthly income was $1,710. This is followed by the second largest employer, traveler accommodations, with a monthly income of $2,067 on average. In other amusement and recreation industries a waitress earned around $1,806 per month. In drinking places that sold primarily alcoholic beverages, waitresses averaged a monthly income of $1,659.Department stores, which only employed around 300 waitresses offered the best pay of all industries with an annually $25,550, meaning a monthly salary of $2,129.
The State of the States
Although a $3,2000 annual range of wages was paid in the top five highest-paying states in 2013, wages for waiters and waitresses still vary a lot by state. According to BLS reports the state of Arkansas offered the lowest average monthly income of $1,430. Hawaii was the best paying state in 2013 with around $2,410 per month. The District of Columbia paid waitresses an average of $2,144 per month. Massachusetts on the other hand paid slightly more at an average of $2,232 and also Vermont paid a very similar monthly wage of $2,245. In Washington, waitresses averaged $2,296 a month.
Job Opportunities
It isn´t important to have formal education, according to the BLS. However there happen to be states which require a specific age for waitresses and waiters when serving alcohol. People who work multiple jobs, need supplemental income or the ones going to school are more likely to become a waitress. Although some larger restaurants and chain eateries offer formal training programs, in most cases waitresses are trained for a very short period of time. Demand for waitresses is low. The BLS projects job growth of only 6 percent from 2012 to 2022, about half the average projected for all occupations.
Salary Information for Waiters and Waitresses in the year 2016
The U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that waiters and waitresses earned a median annual salary of $19,990 in 2016. On the low end, waiters and waitresses earned a 25th percentile salary of $18,360, which means 75% earned more than this amount. The 75th percentile salary is $26,590, meaning 25% earn more. A total of 2,600,500 waitresses and waiters were employed in 2016 in U.S.
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