The average salary for a Waiter in Spokane is 33,970 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 2,831 $ gross per month and 16.33 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 22,400 $ to 61,000 $. The analysis is based on 28 salary reports from workers and employers in Spokane. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/12/2026 | Fine Dining Server | 40.0 h | 61,000 $ | 61,000 $ | 5,083 $ | 29.33 $ | I've been a senior server at an award-winning restaurant for many years. Regulars and high-ticket wine service contribute heavily to my annual earnings; I work full-time and rely on a stable clientele. |
| 05/27/2026 | Cocktail Server | 32.5 h | 27,600 $ | 33,969 $ | 2,831 $ | 16.33 $ | I work evenings at a popular downtown cocktail lounge and average 32.5 hours/week. I consider myself mid-level and the late-night scene provides higher tipping on weekends. |
| 04/03/2026 | Private Catering Server | 38.0 h | 42,000 $ | 44,211 $ | 3,684 $ | 21.26 $ | I run my own small catering team for private events and also work regular shifts at a venue. Between contracted events and venue shifts I average 38 hours a week and have higher than average annual income. |
| 01/20/2026 | Server | 36.0 h | 25,500 $ | 28,333 $ | 2,361 $ | 13.62 $ | I work full-time at a family-style restaurant in Spokane Valley. I've been there three years; steady local clientele provides reliable tips but not as high as fine dining. |
| 11/29/2025 | Head Server | 44.0 h | 58,500 $ | 53,182 $ | 4,432 $ | 25.57 $ | I manage front-of-house operations at a top-tier fine dining establishment, including training and service standards. My role is leadership-focused and I average about 44 hours per week. |
| 09/18/2025 | Server (Part-time) | 25.0 h | 19,500 $ | 31,200 $ | 2,600 $ | 15.00 $ | I work part-time at a trendy brunch spot; my hours average 25 per week and brunch shifts are lucrative but weekday traffic is lighter. |
| 06/30/2025 | Fine Dining Server | 40.0 h | 52,000 $ | 52,000 $ | 4,333 $ | 25.00 $ | I work full-time at an upscale destination restaurant with a strong tourist draw. I've been a senior server for several years and consistently get larger tip pools from high-spend guests. |
| 02/14/2025 | Private Events Server | 34.5 h | 35,000 $ | 40,580 $ | 3,382 $ | 19.51 $ | I do private events and some weekday shifts at a boutique venue. My schedule averages 34.5 hours/week and high-tip events throughout the year push my earnings above typical restaurant servers. |
| 10/05/2024 | Lead Server | 41.0 h | 43,000 $ | 41,951 $ | 3,496 $ | 20.17 $ | I lead the evening team at a well-known restaurant group. Responsibilities include inventory and staff coordination; I'm salaried-ish but the reported amount is my actual annual gross. |
| 06/11/2024 | Server (Part-time) | 30.0 h | 21,000 $ | 28,000 $ | 2,333 $ | 13.46 $ | I take a part-time job at a busy downtown cafe while freelancing. I average 30 hours per week and tips plus hourly pay support my freelance pursuits. |
| 03/22/2024 | Banquet Server | 34.0 h | 26,500 $ | 31,176 $ | 2,598 $ | 14.99 $ | I primarily work weekend banquet shifts at a large event center. It's not strictly full-time, but the weekend volume gives me solid tip income across the year. |
| 11/06/2023 | Fine Dining Server | 40.0 h | 47,000 $ | 47,000 $ | 3,917 $ | 22.60 $ | I work full-time at a high-end, high-turnover fine dining restaurant and have been there six years. Tip averages and higher check totals in recent years increased my annual significantly. |
| 05/15/2023 | Server | 36.0 h | 23,000 $ | 25,556 $ | 2,130 $ | 12.29 $ | I work full-time at a popular pizza and family spot. I'm relatively new with about a year of experience, and steady weekday shifts keep my salary fairly stable. |
| 02/26/2023 | Head Server | 44.0 h | 41,500 $ | 37,727 $ | 3,144 $ | 18.14 $ | I hold a head server position at an upscale restaurant and handle floor scheduling and VIP seating. My role is managerial in nature and I usually work around 44 hours/week. |
| 10/17/2022 | Private Catering Server | 32.5 h | 29,500 $ | 36,308 $ | 3,026 $ | 17.46 $ | I run private catering shifts and do a mix of scheduled events and private parties. Hours vary but average 32.5/week; tips from big weddings push my annual up compared to standard restaurant work. |
| 07/04/2022 | Server (Part-time) | 28.0 h | 17,500 $ | 25,000 $ | 2,083 $ | 12.02 $ | I've been working part-time at a brewpub while attending class. I average 28 hours a week and the brewpub has decent weekend traffic which helps tip income. |
| 03/30/2022 | Lead Server | 42.0 h | 36,000 $ | 34,286 $ | 2,857 $ | 16.48 $ | I supervise evening floor staff at a busy downtown restaurant. My role includes training and opening responsibilities; I work about 42 hours a week and manage shifts regularly. |
| 11/09/2021 | Fine Dining Server | 38.0 h | 33,000 $ | 34,737 $ | 2,895 $ | 16.70 $ | I work full-time in an upscale, reservation-only restaurant. I've been here five years and increased clientele and higher checks helped lift my annual pay this year. |
| 06/14/2021 | Server (Full-time) | 40.0 h | 24,000 $ | 24,000 $ | 2,000 $ | 11.54 $ | I returned to full-time work at a popular neighborhood restaurant as business recovered. I'm a mid-level server with several years' experience and steady weekday and weekend shifts. |
| 08/28/2020 | Cocktail Server | 20.0 h | 15,000 $ | 30,000 $ | 2,500 $ | 14.42 $ | During the pandemic year I shifted to limited hours at a bar and only averaged about 20 hours a week. Tips were inconsistent which lowered my annual take-home. |
| 03/12/2020 | Restaurant Server | 30.0 h | 18,000 $ | 24,000 $ | 2,000 $ | 11.54 $ | I was working part-time at a chain restaurant and had been there under a year. Hours averaged around 30/week and tips fluctuated a lot, so pay was on the lower side. |
| 10/21/2019 | Banquet Lead Server | 34.0 h | 26,000 $ | 30,588 $ | 2,549 $ | 14.71 $ | I led small teams for banquet shifts at a regional event venue. It was technically part-time but supervisory responsibilities and busy weekends raised my earnings. |
| 05/07/2019 | Server (Part-time) | 22.5 h | 14,000 $ | 24,889 $ | 2,074 $ | 11.97 $ | I worked part-time at a busy coffeehouse that does a lot of food service. I averaged 22.5 hours per week while juggling another job, so my annual was modest. |
| 12/03/2018 | Fine Dining Server | 38.0 h | 28,500 $ | 30,000 $ | 2,500 $ | 14.42 $ | I worked in a small upscale restaurant where service expectations were high. I was mid-level with four years of experience and consistently got larger tip checks than casual places. |
| 09/18/2018 | Restaurant Server | 36.0 h | 22,000 $ | 24,444 $ | 2,037 $ | 11.75 $ | I was full-time at a locally owned family restaurant with about 30 employees. After two years I was making steady tips and the combined wages put me at this annual amount. |
| 11/02/2017 | Banquet Server | 25.0 h | 15,800 $ | 25,280 $ | 2,107 $ | 12.15 $ | I was a part-time banquet server for a mid-sized events company. Hours varied but averaged 25/week; work was seasonal and tips from large events made up most of my pay. |
| 06/29/2017 | Cocktail Server | 18.0 h | 13,200 $ | 29,333 $ | 2,444 $ | 14.10 $ | I worked evenings as a cocktail server at a casual bar and did about 18 hours a week. I was entry-level with under a year of experience and mostly depended on tips. |
| 07/15/2016 | Server (Part-time) | 20.0 h | 11,200 $ | 22,400 $ | 1,867 $ | 10.77 $ | I worked part-time at a small neighborhood diner while attending school. I averaged about 20 hours a week and relied mostly on small tips; management was hands-off and I had little experience when I started. |
Spokane is the Inland Northwest’s largest urban center and a regional hub for healthcare, education, manufacturing, and outdoor recreation. That mix supports a steady stream of visitors and locals dining out across downtown, Kendall Yards, the South Perry District, North Spokane, and Spokane Valley. Major events such as Bloomsday, Hoopfest, and a busy calendar at Riverfront Park and the Spokane Convention Center often translate into fuller dining rooms and frequent openings for waiters and banquet servers.
For waiters in Spokane, the job outlook is generally positive. As the city’s convention and sports tourism has rebounded, restaurant and hotel dining rooms have tended to fill up during peak travel periods, concerts, and Gonzaga University game days and graduations. Employers often seek candidates who can handle high-volume service, communicate clearly, and coordinate with kitchen and bar teams. Flexibility—especially for evenings, weekends, and event-driven shifts—can be a hiring advantage.
Spokane’s leisure and hospitality sector has been expanding again since the pandemic downturn, and local operators frequently report ongoing staffing needs. Demand for waiters typically rises during summer visitor season, around major tournaments and conferences, and during the fall and holiday banquet period. Neighborhood corridors with consistent hiring include downtown/Riverfront Park, the emerging North Bank area near the arena, North Division Street, Sprague Avenue in Spokane Valley, and Airway Heights near the casinos and airport.
Washington’s regulatory environment also shapes the job market. Most front-of-house roles that handle food require a Washington State Food Worker Card, and establishments serving alcohol usually expect the Mandatory Alcohol Server Training (MAST) permit issued by the state’s liquor board. Many employers in Spokane list these as preferred or required credentials for waiters, bartenders, and banquet staff.
Operators across the metro—independent bistros, regional chains, hotel restaurants, and caterers—often post openings for both part-time and full-time schedules. Because turnover can be common in hospitality, proactive candidates who follow up after applying, present open availability, and demonstrate knowledge of local products (Inland Northwest produce, Columbia Valley wines, and regional craft beers) may stand out.
Spokane’s dining and hospitality landscape is diverse, offering roles in casual, upscale, and event-focused settings. Employers that frequently hire waiters and banquet servers include:
This is not a complete list, but it reflects the kinds of employers that commonly post waiter and banquet server roles in Spokane.
Waiters in Spokane can move into a range of roles as they build experience. Upscale restaurants and hotel dining rooms often promote to lead server, trainer, bartender, or sommelier/wine steward positions. High-volume venues with strong events calendars may offer pathways to banquet captain or supervisor roles, and many professionals transition into assistant manager, restaurant manager, or hotel food-and-beverage leadership.
Those interested in events and catering can find opportunities scheduling and executing large functions, which can be a useful bridge into event coordination or catering sales. Spokane’s culinary and hospitality training options—such as community college culinary programs and industry certifications—can strengthen a resume, especially for candidates aiming at management or beverage-focused roles.
To compete in Spokane’s market, applicants typically benefit from a current Food Worker Card and MAST permit, strong customer service skills, and familiarity with point-of-sale systems. Knowledge of regional ingredients, local wineries, and craft breweries is also valued by many employers. With steady tourism, a lively events calendar, and an expanding downtown scene, Spokane generally offers consistent opportunities for motivated waiters ready to deliver polished, guest-focused service.
The average salary for a Waiter in Spokane is 33,970 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 2,831 $ 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 Spokane. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.
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