Best cities for a Waitress
The best cities for waitresses are Glendale, AZ, Gilbert, AZ, and Tucson, AZ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for waitresses vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for waitresses in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a waitress or considering a move, this list of the best cities for waitresses to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for waitresses. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a waitress. While the absolute best city for waitresses is Glendale, AZ, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for waitresses in 2024.
If you're looking for a Waitress job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for Waitresses In 2025
1. Glendale, AZ
Waitress Jobs in GlendaleTotal Waitress jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $29,590 Lowest 10 percent warn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location quotient: 1.91 2. Gilbert, AZ
Total Waitress jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $29,568 Lowest 10 percent warn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location quotient: 2.18 3. Tucson, AZ
Waitress Jobs in TucsonTotal Waitress jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $29,612 Lowest 10 percent warn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 0.93 4. Santa Ana, CA
Waitress Jobs in Santa AnaTotal Waitress jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $30,804 Lowest 10 percent warn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location quotient: 1.06 5. Phoenix, AZ
Waitress Jobs in PhoenixTotal Waitress jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $29,571 Lowest 10 percent warn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location quotient: 0.46 6. Oakland, CA
Total Waitress jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $30,543 Lowest 10 percent warn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location quotient: 1.65 7. Anaheim, CA
Waitress Jobs in AnaheimTotal Waitress jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $30,800 Lowest 10 percent warn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location quotient: 0.52 8. Fresno, CA
Total Waitress jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $30,432 Lowest 10 percent warn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location quotient: 0.94 9. Irvine, CA
Waitress Jobs in IrvineTotal Waitress jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $30,793 Lowest 10 percent warn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location quotient: 0.48 10. Philadelphia, PA
Waitress Jobs in PhiladelphiaTotal Waitress jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $24,201 Lowest 10 percent warn: $16,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Location quotient: 0.38
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Best cities for waitresses
- Glendale, AZ
- Gilbert, AZ
- Tucson, AZ
- Santa Ana, CA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Oakland, CA
- Anaheim, CA
- Fresno, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
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- (11 waitress jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a Waitress
Rank  | City | Average Salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glendale, AZ | $29,590 | $19,000 | 245,895 | 2 |
| 2 | Gilbert, AZ | $29,568 | $19,000 | 237,133 | 2 |
| 3 | Tucson, AZ | $29,612 | $19,000 | 530,706 | 4 |
| 4 | Santa Ana, CA | $30,804 | $20,000 | 334,217 | 2 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $29,571 | $19,000 | 1,615,017 | 11 |
| 6 | Oakland, CA | $30,543 | $20,000 | 420,005 | 6 |
| 7 | Anaheim, CA | $30,800 | $20,000 | 351,043 | 1 |
| 8 | Fresno, CA | $30,432 | $20,000 | 522,053 | 2 |
| 9 | Irvine, CA | $30,793 | $20,000 | 266,122 | 5 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $24,201 | $16,000 | 1,567,872 | 7 |
| 11 | San Diego, CA | $30,784 | $20,000 | 1,406,630 | 9 |
| 12 | New York, NY | $32,834 | $22,000 | 8,537,673 | 39 |
| 13 | Boston, MA | $30,983 | $21,000 | 673,184 | 10 |
| 14 | Seattle, WA | $29,848 | $20,000 | 704,352 | 6 |
| 15 | Aurora, CO | $26,929 | $18,000 | 361,710 | 6 |
| 16 | Sacramento, CA | $30,260 | $19,000 | 495,234 | 5 |
| 17 | Washington, DC | $34,909 | $23,000 | 681,170 | 7 |
| 18 | Colorado Springs, CO | $26,955 | $18,000 | 465,101 | 6 |
| 19 | Las Vegas, NV | $22,375 | $14,000 | 632,912 | 11 |
| 20 | Chandler, AZ | $29,582 | $19,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 21 | Los Angeles, CA | $30,853 | $20,000 | 3,976,322 | 4 |
| 22 | Reno, NV | $22,373 | $14,000 | 245,255 | 3 |
| 23 | Lincoln, NE | $20,485 | $13,000 | 280,364 | 6 |
| 24 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $29,988 | $26,000 | 351,792 | 8 |
| 25 | Mesa, AZ | $29,549 | $19,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 26 | Saint Paul, MN | $25,930 | $17,000 | 302,398 | 2 |
| 27 | Scottsdale, AZ | $29,523 | $19,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 28 | Detroit, MI | $24,985 | $16,000 | 672,795 | 1 |
| 29 | San Jose, CA | $30,597 | $20,000 | 1,025,350 | 5 |
| 30 | Portland, OR | $27,735 | $18,000 | 639,863 | 2 |
| 31 | Saint Louis, MO | $23,874 | $16,000 | 311,404 | 5 |
| 32 | Brookhaven, NY | $33,108 | $22,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 33 | Islip, NY | $33,011 | $22,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 34 | Oyster Bay, NY | $32,977 | $22,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 35 | Hempstead, NY | $32,893 | $22,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 36 | Long Beach, CA | $30,850 | $20,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 37 | San Francisco, CA | $30,575 | $20,000 | 870,887 | 5 |
| 38 | Fort Wayne, IN | $21,772 | $14,000 | 264,488 | 1 |
| 39 | New Orleans, LA | $19,533 | $13,000 | 391,495 | 6 |
| 40 | Buffalo, NY | $32,625 | $22,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 41 | Fremont, CA | $30,556 | $20,000 | 233,136 | 1 |
| 42 | Orlando, FL | $23,058 | $15,000 | 277,173 | 7 |
| 43 | Chula Vista, CA | $30,792 | $20,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 44 | San Antonio, TX | $19,536 | $13,000 | 1,492,510 | 14 |
| 45 | Bakersfield, CA | $30,705 | $20,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 46 | Riverside, CA | $30,693 | $20,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 47 | Tampa, FL | $23,068 | $15,000 | 377,165 | 6 |
| 48 | El Paso, TX | $19,702 | $13,000 | 683,080 | 2 |
| 49 | Miami, FL | $23,048 | $16,000 | 453,579 | 7 |
| 50 | Raleigh, NC | $20,256 | $13,000 | 458,880 | 5 |
Highest paying cities for waitresses
| Rank | City | Avg. Waitress Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $34,909 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $32,834 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $30,983 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $30,575 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $29,848 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $29,571 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $26,927 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $25,717 |
| 9 | Nashua, NH | $24,292 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $24,201 |
| 11 | Norfolk, VA | $23,075 |
| 12 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $23,071 |
| 13 | Mason City, IA | $22,626 |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $22,375 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $22,241 |
| 16 | Sandy, UT | $22,009 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $21,678 |
| 18 | Santa Fe, NM | $21,327 |
| 19 | Lincoln, NE | $20,485 |
| 20 | Raleigh, NC | $20,256 |
Waitress best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025