Salaries › Waiter / Waitress › New Jersey
Waiter / Waitress Salary in New Jersey (2026)
$21.62 per hour · take-home ≈ $37,314/year ($3,109/month) for a single filer
Waiter / Waitress pay range in New Jersey
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $32,220 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $35,710 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $44,960 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $56,410 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $78,510 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 55,800 Waiter / Waitress jobs in New Jersey (occupation code 35-3031, “Waiters and Waitresses”).
Gross vs. take-home in New Jersey
A median Waiter / Waitress salary of $44,960 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus New Jersey state income tax, a single filer keeps about $37,314 — an effective tax rate of 17.0%.
| Gross (median) | $44,960 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,215 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,439 |
| New Jersey state income tax | −$992 |
| Take-home (annual) | $37,314 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,109 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free New Jersey paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Waiter / Waitress make in New Jersey?
- The median Waiter / Waitress salary in New Jersey is $44,960 per year ($21.62 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $35,710 and $56,410.
- What is the take-home pay for a Waiter / Waitress in New Jersey?
- On the median salary of $44,960, a single filer in New Jersey takes home about $37,314 per year ($3,109 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 17.0%.
- How many Waiter / Waitress jobs are there in New Jersey?
- BLS counts 55,800 Waiter / Waitress jobs in New Jersey in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Waiter / Waitresss
Other salaries in New Jersey
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified New Jersey state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for New Jersey.