Waiters and Waitresses pay range in San Juan
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,870 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in San Juan earn between $22,080 and $37,240.
- $22K10th
- $22K25th
- $24KMedian
- $37K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $30,370 | $2,531 | $14.60 |
| Median | $24,250 | $2,021 | $11.66 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $22,080 | $1,840 | $10.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,240 | $3,103 | $17.90 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in San Juan vs. Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in San Juan earn about the same as the Puerto Rico average ($29,690) and 24% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -31% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Juan | $30,370 | $24,250 | $21,840 | $44,870 | 9,190 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,690 | $22,790 | $21,840 | $44,140 | 12,260 |
| United States | $40,060 | $35,230 | $18,100 | $64,720 | 2,270,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Is San Juan a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in San Juan ($29,440). A typical home costs $138,700, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Puerto Rico cities
San Juan ranks 1st of 6 Puerto Rico metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
Highest-paying cities for waiters and waitresses
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($87,210).
- Kahului, HI$87,210
- Seattle, WA$62,940
- Honolulu, HI$61,880
- Bremerton, WA$61,770
- Burlington, VT$61,070
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Waiters and Waitresses salary in San Juan: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in San Juan?
$14.60 an hour on average, and $11.66 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in San Juan?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,080, a fair guide to starting pay.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in San Juan than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% less than the U.S. average for this job ($40,060).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3031; area San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR (41980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Census median home value (Zillow does not cover this metro). Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.91, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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