The average salary for a Waiter in Seattle is 43,712 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 3,643 $ gross per month and 21.02 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 22,000 $ to 68,571 $. The analysis is based on 33 salary reports from workers and employers in Seattle. Part-time salaries are proportionally converted to 40 weekly hours so the values are comparable.
| Date | Job title | Weekly hours | Reported gross/year | Normalized to 40h/year | Gross/month 40h | Gross/hour 40h | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/02/2026 | New Entry-Level Server (Part-Time) | 20.0 h | 22,000 $ | 44,000 $ | 3,667 $ | 21.15 $ | I started a part-time serving role this year and average 20 hours a week. This is my first year working in Seattle restaurants and my reported gross includes training weeks and tips. |
| 01/07/2026 | Lead Server, Fine Dining | 42.0 h | 72,000 $ | 68,571 $ | 5,714 $ | 32.97 $ | I lead service at a top-tier fine-dining establishment, manage reservations and train staff. I average about 42 hours per week; my annual gross includes high tips and a leadership premium. |
| 10/05/2025 | Senior Bartender/Server | 40.0 h | 61,000 $ | 61,000 $ | 5,083 $ | 29.33 $ | I split time tending a high-volume cocktail program and serving tables at an upscale bar-restaurant. I average 40 hours a week and my reported pay includes substantial bar and table tips. |
| 08/12/2025 | Upscale Part-Time Server | 30.0 h | 38,000 $ | 50,667 $ | 4,222 $ | 24.36 $ | I work part-time (30 hours) at an upscale restaurant where tips are very good. I do not manage staff but take premium shifts; the salary reflects those tip-heavy hours. |
| 07/19/2025 | Mid-Level Server | 38.0 h | 45,000 $ | 47,368 $ | 3,947 $ | 22.77 $ | I've been with a busy neighborhood restaurant for four years, averaging 38 hours weekly. My annual gross combines base pay and steady tips from regular customers. |
| 04/27/2025 | Entry-Level Full-Time Server | 40.0 h | 32,000 $ | 32,000 $ | 2,667 $ | 15.38 $ | I started full-time at a midscale restaurant this year and work 40 hours per week. I'm entry-level but getting consistent weekend shifts; reported annual gross includes tip income. |
| 02/02/2025 | Head Waiter (Hotel Dining) | 40.0 h | 58,000 $ | 58,000 $ | 4,833 $ | 27.88 $ | I coordinate the dining room staff for a large hotel restaurant, work 40 hours weekly, and take on administrative duties in addition to serving. The salary includes tips and a supervisory allowance. |
| 09/17/2024 | Self-Employed Catering Server | 20.0 h | 33,000 $ | 66,000 $ | 5,500 $ | 31.73 $ | I run a small side business doing private event serving and bartending. I average about 20 hours a week and report my gross annual income including tips and contract fees. |
| 06/06/2024 | Tasting Menu Server | 40.0 h | 65,000 $ | 65,000 $ | 5,417 $ | 31.25 $ | I work full-time at a high-end tasting menu restaurant and have been here for six years. I average 40 hours a week and my annual gross includes significant regular gratuities from well-heeled guests. |
| 03/09/2024 | Line Server (Full-Time) | 38.0 h | 41,000 $ | 43,158 $ | 3,596 $ | 20.75 $ | I work full-time as a line server for a bustling restaurant, averaging 38 hours a week. I'm mid-career and the annual gross includes consistent tipping and occasional overtime. |
| 01/25/2024 | Seasonal Event Server | 30.0 h | 28,000 $ | 37,333 $ | 3,111 $ | 17.95 $ | I work seasonally for catering and events, averaging 30 hours a week during the season. This annual number includes all event tips and off-season slow periods. |
| 11/11/2023 | Senior Server | 40.0 h | 55,000 $ | 55,000 $ | 4,583 $ | 26.44 $ | I am a senior server at a high-volume restaurant, work 40 hours weekly, and handle training and floor coordination. My reported gross reflects steady tipping and experience. |
| 06/18/2023 | Brunch Server (Part-Time) | 22.0 h | 26,000 $ | 47,273 $ | 3,939 $ | 22.73 $ | I work brunch shifts at a very busy weekend spot and average 22 hours per week. My annual gross is higher than other part-time roles because weekend tips are strong. |
| 05/30/2023 | Line Server | 36.0 h | 36,000 $ | 40,000 $ | 3,333 $ | 19.23 $ | I work 36 hours a week as a line server at a busy neighborhood spot. I'm mid-level with three years here; the salary includes tips and some overtime during peak season. |
| 02/14/2023 | Banquet Captain (Events) | 44.0 h | 62,000 $ | 56,364 $ | 4,697 $ | 27.10 $ | I run banquet crews for large events and supervise multiple teams. I average about 44 hours per week; my reported annual gross includes supervisory pay and pooled banquet gratuities. |
| 11/02/2022 | Senior Lead Server | 42.0 h | 58,000 $ | 55,238 $ | 4,603 $ | 26.56 $ | I'm a senior lead who coordinates service for peak shifts and special events. I average about 42 hours a week and my annual gross includes a leadership stipend plus tips. |
| 09/22/2022 | Cafe Part-Time Server | 18.0 h | 15,500 $ | 34,444 $ | 2,870 $ | 16.56 $ | I work mornings and brunch shifts at a small cafe, about 18 hours weekly. This is my annual gross including tips; I'm early-career and take a lot of weekend shifts. |
| 03/08/2022 | Fine-Dining Server (Senior) | 40.0 h | 50,000 $ | 50,000 $ | 4,167 $ | 24.04 $ | I've been a senior server at a high-end tasting menu restaurant for five years. I work 40 hours per week and my reported pay includes substantial tips from regular high-spend covers. |
| 12/20/2021 | Lead Server / Trainer | 42.0 h | 55,000 $ | 52,381 $ | 4,365 $ | 25.18 $ | I manage shift assignments and train new servers at a busy upscale restaurant. I'm salaried and average about 42 hours a week; the number is my annual gross including tips and a leadership stipend. |
| 10/05/2021 | Private Events Server (Full-Time) | 40.0 h | 48,000 $ | 48,000 $ | 4,000 $ | 23.08 $ | I work full-time handling private events and small weddings; I average 40 hours per week and my reported annual gross includes tips and contractor fees. |
| 07/14/2021 | Part-Time Server (Rehiring Period) | 30.0 h | 18,000 $ | 24,000 $ | 2,000 $ | 11.54 $ | I returned to part-time shifts in 2021 during the recovery and averaged 30 hours per week. My reported annual gross includes tips and a short period of unemployment earlier in the year. |
| 11/05/2020 | Full-Time Server (COVID Year) | 40.0 h | 22,000 $ | 22,000 $ | 1,833 $ | 10.58 $ | I was on staff full-time at a mid-size restaurant in 2020 but business was severely reduced. I averaged 40 scheduled hours but much of my income dropped; the salary reported is my gross for the year. |
| 09/10/2020 | Self-Employed Event Server (Pandemic Year) | 18.0 h | 14,200 $ | 31,556 $ | 2,630 $ | 15.17 $ | As a self-employed event server in 2020 I had far fewer gigs and averaged about 18 hours a week. This is my total gross for that difficult year, tips included. |
| 06/20/2020 | Casual Server (Pandemic Reduced Hours) | 16.0 h | 9,500 $ | 23,750 $ | 1,979 $ | 11.42 $ | In 2020 I lost a lot of hours due to COVID closures and only averaged 16 hours a week. This figure is my actual annual gross for that year, including the limited tips I received. |
| 12/31/2019 | Bar & Restaurant Server (Part-Time) | 20.0 h | 25,000 $ | 50,000 $ | 4,167 $ | 24.04 $ | I work 20 hours a week splitting time between the bar and dining room. I've been part-time for three years; my annual gross includes bartending tips on weekend shifts. |
| 06/11/2019 | Lead Server | 40.0 h | 46,000 $ | 46,000 $ | 3,833 $ | 22.12 $ | I'm a lead server at an upscale neighborhood restaurant. I supervise shifts, mentor new hires, and average 40 hours per week. My reported annual gross includes tips and a small shift differential. |
| 03/19/2019 | Family Restaurant Server (Part-Time) | 30.0 h | 23,500 $ | 31,333 $ | 2,611 $ | 15.06 $ | I work part-time evenings at a family-style restaurant, roughly 30 hours weekly. I'm experienced and my reported annual gross includes steady tip income from repeat local customers. |
| 10/01/2018 | Banquet Server (Hotel) | 40.0 h | 34,000 $ | 34,000 $ | 2,833 $ | 16.35 $ | I work full-time in hotel banquets for a large events team. I'm mid-level with about two years tenure, 40 hours a week, and tips/gratuities are pooled into my reported annual pay. |
| 04/20/2018 | Fine-Dining Server | 40.0 h | 42,000 $ | 42,000 $ | 3,500 $ | 20.19 $ | I work full-time in a fine-dining restaurant and have been here four years. I average 40 hours per week and my annual gross includes heavy tipping from multi-course tasting menus. |
| 02/28/2018 | Bakery Cafe Server (Part-Time) | 15.0 h | 13,800 $ | 36,800 $ | 3,067 $ | 17.69 $ | I work part-time mornings at a bakery cafe, about 15 hours a week. I'm fairly new and the annual gross includes tips from morning rushes and weekend shifts. |
| 11/15/2017 | Restaurant Server (Full-Time) | 38.0 h | 28,000 $ | 29,474 $ | 2,456 $ | 14.17 $ | I've been full-time at a small independent restaurant for three years. I work 38 hours a week and my salary includes tips; responsibilities include opening shifts and side work. |
| 05/03/2017 | Cafe Server | 25.0 h | 20,000 $ | 32,000 $ | 2,667 $ | 15.38 $ | I'm a part-time server at a busy cafe, working about 25 hours weekly. I've been here two years and my reported annual pay includes tips and occasional weekend shifts. |
| 08/12/2016 | Casual Diner Server | 18.0 h | 12,500 $ | 27,778 $ | 2,315 $ | 13.35 $ | I work part-time at a small neighborhood diner and have been here about six months. I average 18 hours a week and report my annual gross including tips. I'm entry-level and still learning the floor. |
The average salary for a Waiter in Seattle is 43,712 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 3,643 $ gross per month.
Part-time and full-time reports are normalized to a 40-hour workweek so salary reports can be compared fairly.
You can find more comparisons on the profession overview for Waiter and the city overview for Seattle. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.
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