SOC 9264 Elementary administration and service occupations

Waiters and waitresses Salary

Median salary £10,000 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £10,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For waiters and waitresses, £22,936 is the typical (median) pay. That is well below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -41% versus the national average. Experienced waiters and waitresses (top 25%) earn over £17,788.

About this role

Waiters and waitresses support food and drink service operations in hospitality settings. They prepare food items, serve customers, maintain cleanliness and ensure smooth service delivery in restaurants, bars, hotels and catering venues.

Key responsibilities

Preparing, assembling or serving food and drinks
Maintaining cleanliness and hygiene standards
Restocking supplies and setting up service areas
Following food safety and health and safety procedures
Providing friendly and efficient customer service

Qualifications and entry routes

No formal qualifications are required for most entry-level positions. Food Hygiene Level 2 is typically required. Personal licence is needed for those selling alcohol.

Career outlook

Entry-level roles with opportunities for progression through experience, additional training and skills development. Apprenticeships offer structured routes into skilled occupations.

Key skills

Customer service Working under pressure Teamwork Communication Food hygiene awareness

Common industries

Restaurants
Pubs and bars
Hotels
Contract catering
Events

Data coverage

SOC code 9264

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 146,000

Median Salary

£10,000

Mean Salary

£11,958

Jobs (000s)

146k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P10: £2kP25: £5kMedian: £10kP75: £18kP90: £25k

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£2,423

0-2 years

Mid Level

£4,784

3-7 years

Senior

£17,788

8-15 years

Leadership

£25,105

15+ years

Potential career growth: +936% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +53.0%Real growth: +10.8%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 14.2%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£10,000

Full-time Only

£22,936

Full-time premium: +£12,936

Waiters and waitresses salary: common questions

How much do waiters and waitresses earn in the UK?

Waiters and waitresses earn a median of £22,936 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £4,784 and £17,788.

Is £22,936 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for waiters and waitresses?

Entry-level waiters and waitresses typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £4,784, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £2,423.

How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses earn?

The best-paid 10% of waiters and waitresses earn over £25,105 a year, and the top 25% over £17,788 (ONS ASHE 2025).

Have waiters and waitresses salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median waiters and waitresses pay has risen from £13,339 to £22,936 — +72% in cash terms, or +25% after CPIH inflation. That is ahead of inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for waiters and waitresses?

Male waiters and waitresses earn a median £11,067 and female waiters and waitresses £9,499 — a gap of +14% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).