SOC 35-3031 · Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · May 2025

How much do Waiters and Waitresses make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

In the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is $39,270. The 10th percentile is $31,930 and the 90th percentile is $64,150. Employment is 41,570.

Median annual wage

$39,270

10th percentile
$31,930
25th percentile
$35,880
Median
$39,270
75th percentile
$45,910
90th percentile
$64,150
Mean
$45,340

Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.

Warehouse workers driving forklifts loaded with goods
Forklift operators in a Miami warehouse, 2011. Photograph by U.S. Department of Agriculture. Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

Percentile spread

For Waiters and Waitresses, the published 10th percentile is $31,930 and the 90th percentile is $64,150. The difference is $32,220, which is 82.0% of the median. Ten percent of measured wages fall below the 10th percentile and ten percent fall above the 90th. How to read a percentile.

The middle half of the distribution, from the 25th percentile at $35,880 to the 75th at $45,910, covers $10,030.

The mean annual wage is $45,340, which sits above the median of $39,270. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.

National and state comparison

The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH median is 11.5% higher than the national median of $35,230 for Waiters and Waitresses. In 2024 national prices the local median is $36,272, which is 3% higher than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.

It is 2.1% higher than the Massachusetts median of $38,460.

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH covers more than one state. The state comparison uses Massachusetts, the primary state on the BLS area record.

Price-adjusted pay

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is 108.266, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $39,270 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Waiters and Waitresses at $36,272 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.

Nearby metros

20 other metropolitan areas within 200 miles publish a annual median for Waiters and Waitresses. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ranks 9th of 21 on that median, counting itself. Distance is the great-circle mileage between Census Bureau internal points (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files, Core Based Statistical Areas, internal points (INTPTLAT, INTPTLONG).).

  • Manchester-Nashua, NH is 45 miles away, with a median of $38,430 and employment of 2,590. That median is 2.1% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $36,372, against $36,272 here.
  • Worcester, MA is 49 miles away, with a median of $36,840 and employment of 4,610. That median is 6.2% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $35,933, against $36,272 here.
  • Providence-Warwick, RI-MA is 58 miles away, with a median of $35,750 and employment of 13,600. That median is 9% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $35,127, against $36,272 here.

Employment share

Waiters and Waitresses accounts for 1.5% of wage-and-salary employment in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (41,570 of 2,703,890). Nationally the occupation is 1.5% of employment (2,270,910 of 155,495,730). The local share is 1.05 times the national share. That ratio is the location quotient computed from these May 2025 employment counts. It is not copied from the location-quotient column in the BLS bulk file.

Highest-paying jobs in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH · Waiters and Waitresses by metro · How to read these percentiles · Median and mean · When a wage is not published · How the figures are made · Compare this wage after prices

Questions this page answers

How much do Waiters and Waitresses make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is $39,270. The 10th percentile is $31,930 and the 90th percentile is $64,150. Employment is 41,570.

How does that compare with the national median for Waiters and Waitresses?

The local median is 11.5% higher than the national median of $35,230.

What is Waiters and Waitresses pay in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH after local prices?

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is 108.266, with the United States at 100. In those national prices, the May 2025 median of $39,270 is $36,272. The wage is May 2025 and the parity is 2024.

How does Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH compare with nearby metros for Waiters and Waitresses?

Manchester-Nashua, NH is the closest metropolitan area within 200 miles with a published annual median, 45 miles away, at $38,430. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ranks 9th of 21 metros within 200 miles on that median. Distances use Census Bureau internal points.