The median annual wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Illinois is $29,120 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $34,700.
Pay spans roughly $29,120 at the 10th percentile to $47,830 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $14.00 per hour. An estimated 84,550 people work as waiters and waitresses in Illinois.
| Median (annual) | $29,120 |
| Mean (annual) | $34,700 |
| Median (hourly) | $14.00 |
| 10th percentile | $29,120 |
| 90th percentile | $47,830 |
| Employment | 84,550 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.