Waiters and Waitresses pay in Michigan
$44,910avg. a year
$21.59 an hour · 65,090 employed
Waiters and Waitresses in Michigan earn an average of $44,910 a year. That is $4,850 (12%) more than the U.S. average of $40,060. The best-paying metro area is Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI at $47,040.
$37,760Median pay
$21.59Average hourly
+70%Avg. pay since 2020
#13Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying Michigan metro areas
Average pay for waiters and waitresses by metro area. Swipe to see all 16.
18,080 jobs
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI
$47,040
$22.62 an hour
22,710 jobs
Ann Arbor, MI
$46,830
$22.51 an hour
31,610 jobs
Traverse City, MI
$45,550
$21.90 an hour
42,710 jobs
Lansing-East Lansing, MI
$45,170
$21.72 an hour
529,210 jobs
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
$45,080
$21.67 an hour
6810 jobs
Jackson, MI
$45,050
$21.66 an hour
72,120 jobs
Flint, MI
$45,030
$21.65 an hour
81,740 jobs
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI
$44,590
$21.44 an hour
9930 jobs
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI
$44,470
$21.38 an hour
10570 jobs
Bay City, MI
$44,370
$21.33 an hour
11430 jobs
Midland, MI
$44,040
$21.17 an hour
121,390 jobs
Niles, MI
$43,960
$21.14 an hour
131,470 jobs
Saginaw, MI
$43,890
$21.10 an hour
14660 jobs
Monroe, MI
$43,460
$20.89 an hour
15750 jobs
Battle Creek, MI
$43,020
$20.68 an hour
161,970 jobs
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
$31,830
$15.30 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Michigan, charted
Pay over time
Michigan, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where Michigan waiters and waitresses work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · Michigan highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $31k$31k–$38k$38k–$45k$45k+Michigan
Michigan vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $40,060 | $19.26 |
| Michigan | $44,910 | $21.59 |
| Ohio | $42,190 | $20.28 |
| Wisconsin | $34,570 | $16.62 |
| Indiana | $31,170 | $14.99 |
Related jobs in Michigan
Average pay, Michigan, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do waiters and waitresses make in Michigan?
The average is $44,910 a year, and the median is $37,760. That is $4,850 (12%) more than the U.S. average of $40,060.
What is the hourly wage in Michigan?
$21.59 an hour on average; the median is $18.16.
Where in Michigan do they earn the most?
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI ($47,040), followed by Ann Arbor, MI ($46,830). The lowest average among 16 metro areas with data is South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI ($31,830).
How does Michigan rank?
Michigan ranks #13 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 35-3031. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national waiters and waitresses page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.