Waiter salary in the US
Most waiter ads in the United States pay $30,000 – $45,000 incl. tips a year before tax, and $50,000 – $70,000 for captains and restaurant managers. Pay varies a lot by state and city, so compare the full package: health insurance, 401(k) match, paid time off and bonus can add 20–30% on top of base pay.
What employers ask for
Most waiter job ads in the US ask for table-service experience, a food handler card in some states and evening and weekend shifts. The sectors hiring most are restaurants, hotels and events, and many openings are in New York, California, Florida and Nevada.
Visa sponsorship and work authorisation
Most US roles require existing work authorisation. Some employers sponsor an H-1B visa, and the ad usually says so: search the description for "sponsorship". See our visa sponsorship jobs for employers that hire from abroad.
Before you apply
US recruiters expect a one- or two-page résumé with no photo, date of birth or marital status, and most screen with an ATS first. Paste the ad into our free CV checker to see which keywords you're missing and whether your layout will read correctly. It runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded.
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