Waiters and waitresses salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£10,000
Typical Annual pay range
Understanding Waiters and waitresses pay in the UK
The typical waiters and waitresses in the UK earns a median salary of £10,000 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The middle half of waiters and waitresses earnings fall between £4,784 and £17,788 a year. That is a wide range, a sign that pay climbs steeply with experience, specialism and employer, so the median is a starting point rather than a ceiling.
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £11,958. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners is pulling the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical waiters and waitresses actually takes home.
Where you work changes the picture: waiters and waitresses pay ranges from £7,635 in Yorkshire and the Humber up to £15,734 in London, a difference of £8,099 (106%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see waiters and waitresses pay in London or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
London is the highest-paying region for waiters and waitresses at £15,734 — 57% above the UK median. Yorkshire and the Humber is lowest at £7,635.
UK median £10,000
| Region | Median payUK median £10,000 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £15,734 | £15,734 | £17,525 | +57% |
| Scotland | £11,617 | £11,617 | £11,863 | +16% |
| Wales | £10,802 | £10,802 | £11,002 | +8% |
| East Midlands | £10,099 | £10,099 | £10,154 | +1% |
| North West | £9,656 | £9,656 | £10,046 | -3% |
| East of England | £9,437 | £9,437 | £10,351 | -6% |
| West Midlands | £9,360 | £9,360 | £9,915 | -6% |
| South West | £9,101 | £9,101 | £9,888 | -9% |
| South East | £8,662 | £8,662 | £10,943 | -13% |
| North East | £7,996 | £7,996 | £9,167 | -20% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £7,635 | £7,635 | £9,403 | -24% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £15,734 | £15,734Mean £17,525 | +57% |
| Scotland £11,617 | £11,617Mean £11,863 | +16% |
| Wales £10,802 | £10,802Mean £11,002 | +8% |
| East Midlands £10,099 | £10,099Mean £10,154 | +1% |
| North West £9,656 | £9,656Mean £10,046 | -3% |
| East of England £9,437 | £9,437Mean £10,351 | -6% |
| West Midlands £9,360 | £9,360Mean £9,915 | -6% |
| South West £9,101 | £9,101Mean £9,888 | -9% |
| South East £8,662 | £8,662Mean £10,943 | -13% |
| North East £7,996 | £7,996Mean £9,167 | -20% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £7,635 | £7,635Mean £9,403 | -24% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£10,000); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local waiters and waitresses pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow waiters and waitresses pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for waiters and waitresses by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
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