Waiters waitresses salary in London (2025/26)
Official occupation: Waiters and waitresses
Full-time average annual pay in London
£15,734
Based on ~23,000 employees · 2025 · moderate suppression
Median
£15,734
Mean
£17,525
| Statistic | Annual pay (gross) |
|---|---|
| Median | £15,734 |
| Mean | £17,525 |
Region-level range withheld by ONS — UK-wide, the middle half of waiters and waitresses earn £4,784–£17,788. See full methodology →
Understanding Waiters and waitresses pay in London
The typical waiters and waitresses in London earns a median salary of £15,734 in 2025/26, based on around 23,000 employees — 57.3% (£5,734) above the UK-wide median of £10,000. 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.
Across the UK, London ranks 1st of 11 regions for waiters and waitresses pay. Regional medians run from £7,635 in Yorkshire and the Humber up to £15,734 in London, a spread of £8,099 (106%).
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £17,525. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical waiters and waitresses in London actually earns.
To see what £15,734 means after income tax and National Insurance, use the take-home pay calculator below — it also factors in student loan repayments.
Take-home pay estimate
Tax year 2025/26| Monthly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £1,311 | £15,734 |
| Income tax | £53 | £633 |
| National Insurance | £21 | £253 |
| Take-home pay | £1,237 | £14,848 |
Estimate only · 2025/26 HMRC rates · Standard tax code · No pension contribution · Not financial or tax advice
How Waiters and waitresses 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 (current region) | £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 (current region) £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.
How waiters and waitresses pay in London has changed over time
Median annual pay for waiters and waitresses in London by year, shown against the UK-wide median (Source: ONS ASHE). The shaded band is the UK-wide 25%–75% pay range — ONS does not publish pay range breakdowns at region level.
London median
UK median
▪ UK-wide 25%–75% range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a waiters waitresses earn in London?
- The median annual waiters waitresses salary in London is £15,734, according to ONS ASHE 2025 data.
- How does waiters waitresses pay in London compare to the UK average?
- London waiters waitresses earn a median of £15,734 per year — 57.3% above the UK median of £10,000 (ONS ASHE 2025).
- Is London a well-paid location for waiters waitresses?
- The London median of £15,734 is 57.3% higher than the UK-wide median of £10,000, making it a relatively well-paid location for this role (ONS ASHE 2025).
How the figures are sourced
Data sources: Official UK earnings data (2025 provisional)(opens in new tab)
Related roles in Other Elementary Services Occupations
Other published roles in this occupation group. View category overview →
Related salary guides
- The 25 Lowest-Paid Jobs in the UK 2026 (ONS Low Pay Bulletin Explained) →
The 25 lowest paid jobs uk 2026 ranked by ONS ASHE 2025 median pay — plus the official Low Pay threshold, sector context, and where the same roles pay more.