The average salary for a Waiter in Tulsa is 29,549 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 2,462 $ gross per month and 14.21 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 14,286 $ to 52,000 $. The analysis is based on 31 salary reports from workers and employers in Tulsa. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/05/2026 | Private Events Server (Self-employed) | 30.0 h | 30,000 $ | 40,000 $ | 3,333 $ | 19.23 $ | I run a private-events serving business and average about three to four high-end events per week. Hours are concentrated around events, and income is higher than typical part-time restaurant work. |
| 01/27/2026 | Fine Dining Top Server | 40.0 h | 52,000 $ | 52,000 $ | 4,333 $ | 25.00 $ | I was one of the top servers at a nationally recognized fine-dining spot in town. High checks, large wine lists, and regular repeat guests resulted in unusually strong tip income. |
| 08/01/2025 | Server | 40.0 h | 46,000 $ | 46,000 $ | 3,833 $ | 22.12 $ | I worked full-time at a high-volume restaurant that attracts both locals and visitors; consistent tips and occasional large parties boosted my overall earnings. |
| 02/14/2025 | Private Club Senior Server | 44.0 h | 50,000 $ | 45,455 $ | 3,788 $ | 21.85 $ | I held a senior serving position at a private club with high-spending members; my role included overseeing other servers on big event nights and consistent weekday service. |
| 11/09/2024 | Banquet Captain | 44.0 h | 48,000 $ | 43,636 $ | 3,636 $ | 20.98 $ | I worked as the banquet captain for a private club and managed large events and staff scheduling in addition to leading service during events; hours were long but compensation reflected the responsibility. |
| 07/21/2024 | Head Server / Shift Lead | 42.0 h | 42,000 $ | 40,000 $ | 3,333 $ | 19.23 $ | I was the head server at a popular downtown restaurant, responsible for training, opening/closing, and overseeing service on busy nights in addition to my serving duties. |
| 03/15/2024 | Fine Dining Senior Server | 40.0 h | 44,000 $ | 44,000 $ | 3,667 $ | 21.15 $ | As a senior server at a high-end establishment I handled large parties and wine service; my experience and regulars helped push my annual income well above local averages. |
| 12/02/2023 | Server | 40.0 h | 35,000 $ | 35,000 $ | 2,917 $ | 16.83 $ | I was working full-time at a well-reviewed contemporary restaurant; after a few years there I had steady sections and better nightly earnings than earlier in my career. |
| 09/12/2023 | Private Events Server (Self-employed) | 20.0 h | 17,000 $ | 34,000 $ | 2,833 $ | 16.35 $ | I did private event work and high-end parties on a contract basis. Hours were concentrated on weekends but the per-event pay and tips were higher than casual shifts. |
| 05/04/2023 | Upscale Steakhouse Server | 38.0 h | 38,000 $ | 40,000 $ | 3,333 $ | 19.23 $ | I worked as a senior server at an upscale steakhouse with many regulars and high average checks; my schedule was slightly under 40 but tips were quite strong. |
| 10/30/2022 | Banquet Server | 30.0 h | 20,000 $ | 26,667 $ | 2,222 $ | 12.82 $ | I worked part-time doing banquets and larger events for a catering company; steady weekend work and some weekday event nights made this a significant part-time income. |
| 06/13/2022 | Floor Supervisor (Server Role) | 42.0 h | 36,000 $ | 34,286 $ | 2,857 $ | 16.48 $ | I had a supervisor title while still serving on the floor, responsible for staffing decisions and handling guest issues. Hours were longer because of prep and post-shift tasks. |
| 02/20/2022 | Fine Dining Server | 40.0 h | 33,000 $ | 33,000 $ | 2,750 $ | 15.87 $ | I moved to a high-end restaurant and my knowledge of wine and tasting menus increased my average tips substantially compared to casual spots. |
| 11/29/2021 | Lead Server | 40.0 h | 29,000 $ | 29,000 $ | 2,417 $ | 13.94 $ | I was the shift lead at a mid-size bistro; tasks included opening/closing, training, and some guest service recovery in addition to serving duties. |
| 09/18/2021 | Server | 40.0 h | 27,000 $ | 27,000 $ | 2,250 $ | 12.98 $ | I took a full-time server role post-reopening at a popular neighborhood restaurant and gradually picked up consistent shifts and busier sections. |
| 03/02/2021 | Catering Server (Self-employed) | 25.0 h | 17,000 $ | 27,200 $ | 2,267 $ | 13.08 $ | I was running my own small catering/server gig nights and weekends while holding another part-time job. Income came from private events and wedding shifts. |
| 12/15/2020 | Server | 40.0 h | 21,000 $ | 21,000 $ | 1,750 $ | 10.10 $ | By the end of 2020 I returned to full-time shifts at a local spot; business was still uneven and tips hadn't fully recovered yet. |
| 08/25/2020 | Server | 28.0 h | 10,000 $ | 14,286 $ | 1,190 $ | 6.87 $ | I was part-time through much of 2020 as the restaurant reduced capacity. Hours were reduced but I tried to keep a steady schedule when possible. |
| 04/10/2020 | Server | 20.0 h | 7,500 $ | 15,000 $ | 1,250 $ | 7.21 $ | This was during the early COVID wave when shifts were sparse. I worked roughly 20 hours a week at a small restaurant and saw a sharp drop in tips compared to prior years. |
| 11/05/2019 | Banquet Server | 16.0 h | 9,000 $ | 22,500 $ | 1,875 $ | 10.82 $ | I picked up part-time banquet shifts while I was in school. I only worked a few nights per week, mostly weekends, and income varied with the event calendar. |
| 07/29/2019 | Fine Dining Server | 40.0 h | 31,000 $ | 31,000 $ | 2,583 $ | 14.90 $ | I was a seasoned server at an upscale restaurant, and my consistent large sections and wine knowledge produced much better tips than my earlier jobs. |
| 03/18/2019 | Server | 38.0 h | 23,000 $ | 24,211 $ | 2,018 $ | 11.64 $ | I worked full-time at a busy local restaurant and had four years' experience. The schedule was mostly nights and weekends; I wasn't in management but occasionally filled in for shift leads. |
| 11/21/2018 | Banquet Captain | 42.0 h | 28,000 $ | 26,667 $ | 2,222 $ | 12.82 $ | I was a banquet captain for a hotel conference center, supervising a small team on event days in addition to serving. My hours were longer because I handled setup and breakdown duties. |
| 08/02/2018 | Fine Dining Server | 40.0 h | 26,000 $ | 26,000 $ | 2,167 $ | 12.50 $ | I worked full-time at a higher-end restaurant and had three years of fine-dining experience. Tips were better than casual places, but the job had higher expectations and longer service times. |
| 05/14/2018 | Server | 24.0 h | 11,000 $ | 18,333 $ | 1,528 $ | 8.81 $ | Part-time server at a coffee-and-small-plates place while I was in school. Mostly evening shifts and weekend brunches; I didn't manage or supervise anyone. |
| 12/30/2017 | Lead Server | 40.0 h | 23,000 $ | 23,000 $ | 1,917 $ | 11.06 $ | I was promoted to lead server at a busy casual restaurant and handled shift setup and some light scheduling in addition to serving. I worked full-time and trained new hires. |
| 10/10/2017 | Private Event Server (Self-employed) | 20.0 h | 9,000 $ | 18,000 $ | 1,500 $ | 8.65 $ | I was self-employed doing private event serving on weekends. Hours were limited but tips on busy nights helped; this was my supplemental income while working another job. |
| 04/22/2017 | Server | 40.0 h | 20,500 $ | 20,500 $ | 1,708 $ | 9.86 $ | I was a full-time server at a mid-size restaurant with around five years' experience. I covered a lot of shifts and occasionally trained newer servers, but I wasn't a manager. |
| 11/03/2016 | Restaurant Server | 40.0 h | 18,500 $ | 18,500 $ | 1,542 $ | 8.89 $ | I was full-time at a casual neighborhood restaurant with three years' experience. Tips were modest and hours were steady; I did not have any supervisory responsibilities. |
| 09/15/2016 | Banquet Server | 30.0 h | 14,000 $ | 18,667 $ | 1,556 $ | 8.97 $ | I worked as a part-time banquet server for a catering company, averaging about three events a week. Income varied a lot by season. |
| 07/20/2016 | Server | 18.0 h | 9,500 $ | 21,111 $ | 1,759 $ | 10.15 $ | I worked part-time at a small diner downtown for about a year when I submitted this. I was entry-level, averaging weekend shifts and some weekday nights, and I did not manage anyone. |
Tulsa’s dining scene has expanded quickly over the past decade, fueled by revitalized downtown districts, steady convention traffic, and year-round events. For waiters, the market typically offers a mix of fine-dining rooms, busy casual concepts, hotel restaurants, casinos, and event venues. Neighborhoods such as the Blue Dome District, Tulsa Arts District, Brookside, and Cherry Street have become reliable hubs for new openings and consistent guest traffic.
Large attractions also support demand. The BOK Center and Cox Business Convention Center draw concerts, sports, and conferences that spill diners into surrounding restaurants and hotel dining rooms. Outdoor venues and seasonal attractions like Gathering Place, ONEOK Field (home of the Tulsa Drillers), and the annual Tulsa State Fair at Expo Square often create surges in service needs, especially for banquet and event staffing. This blend of business travel, local nightlife, and family attractions gives waiters in Tulsa a range of workplaces and schedules.
Restaurant employment in Tulsa has generally rebounded alongside a broader return to in-person events and travel. Employers often report ongoing hiring for servers due to industry turnover and fluctuating customer volumes. Demand typically rises during spring and fall event seasons and around holidays. Downtown dinner service, weekend brunch, and pre-event rushes near the BOK Center and ONEOK Field are common peaks.
Waiters in Tulsa commonly need strong table-service skills, menu knowledge, and the ability to handle high-volume shifts. For roles that include alcohol service, many employers require an Oklahoma alcohol server permit through the ABLE Commission. A Tulsa Health Department food handler permit is also frequently requested. Employers often value cross-training with hosting, bussing, or bar support to cover rush periods, and they may offer additional training in wine, craft beer, or cocktail service for premium venues.
Transportation remains largely car-centric, but many restaurants are clustered in walkable districts, which helps with shift coverage during big events. Because so much hospitality business occurs nights and weekends, employers typically prioritize flexible availability and reliability. Given the breadth of venues—from casual to upscale—waiters can usually find settings that match their experience level and service style.
Tulsa’s major hospitality employers include a mix of independent concepts, regional restaurant groups, hotels, and casinos. Examples include:
These employers benefit from a regional economy anchored by energy, aerospace, finance, healthcare, and higher education. Corporate travel and local business dining can keep midweek service steady, while weekend events and nightlife drive evening demand.
For waiters in Tulsa, the variety of concepts creates clear paths for growth. Candidates new to the field can often start in casual or family dining and move into higher-check-average rooms as they refine sales and service skills. Upscale steakhouses and chef-driven restaurants offer opportunities to learn tableside presentation, pairing, and coursing, while casinos and hotels provide exposure to banquets and large-scale events.
Common advancement steps include lead server, trainer, bartender, and floor or shift supervisor, with progression to assistant manager or dining room manager for those interested in leadership. Specialized tracks—such as wine captain in fine dining or banquet captain in hotels and convention centers—are also available. Local training resources can be found through institutions such as Tulsa Tech and Tulsa Community College, which offer hospitality and culinary programs, and through industry classes like ServSafe and alcohol server training that help candidates meet employer requirements.
Students at the University of Tulsa or OSU-Tulsa often appreciate the scheduling flexibility common in restaurant roles, and many employers near campus corridors and downtown districts accommodate part-time availability. Overall, Tulsa’s mix of neighborhood restaurants, destination venues, and large-scale events provides waiters with a broad platform to build experience, specialize, and advance into supervisory or management roles.
The average salary for a Waiter in Tulsa is 29,549 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 2,462 $ 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 Tulsa. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.
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