Best States for Waiters and Waitresses

Ranked by the Career Atlas Opportunity Score, not raw pay — a high-paying state with few jobs or a high cost of living can rank below a more balanced one.

  1. 1Hawaii87.8 / 100
  2. 2Arizona86.5 / 100
  3. 3New York79.6 / 100
  4. 4Florida79.5 / 100
  5. 5District of Columbia75.9 / 100
  6. 6Virginia75.9 / 100
  7. 7Michigan71.9 / 100
  8. 8Massachusetts68.4 / 100
  9. 9Colorado65.2 / 100
  10. 10Ohio64.7 / 100
  11. 11Rhode Island64.4 / 100
  12. 12Maine64.1 / 100
  13. 13New Mexico63.6 / 100
  14. 14Nevada63.4 / 100
  15. 15Delaware62.4 / 100

Also see highest-paying states (ranked by salary alone).