Prevailing Wage for Waiters and Waitresses
Prevailing wages for Waiters and Waitresses are set by DOL using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, which means the floor a Food Server or Banquet Server must clear varies significantly from one city to the next. DOL defines four experience-based levels, and the applicable level determines the minimum wage an employer must pay on a sponsored position.
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Entry-level servers with minimal table-service experience, typically following close supervision and established dining procedures. This level applies to candidates new to the occupation who are still developing skills in order-taking, upselling, and coordinating with kitchen staff.
The most common filing level for Waiters and Waitresses. Applies to servers with moderate experience who handle a full section independently, manage routine guest situations without supervision, and consistently meet the employer's service standards.
Experienced servers who regularly handle complex or high-volume sections, mentor newer staff, and take on broader responsibilities such as training, banquet coordination, or specialty beverage service that require demonstrated judgment beyond standard table service.
Fully competent servers in senior or lead roles, such as lead banquet servers or dining room captains, whose work involves directing junior staff, managing service flow for large events, and exercising independent judgment across the full scope of the occupation.
Prevailing Wage for Waiters and Waitresses by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Waiters and Waitresses and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your title maps to the right SOC
Titles like Cocktail Server or Food Runner are sometimes filed under a different SOC code, which can result in a prevailing wage that does not reflect this occupation's floor. Verify your offer letter title against SOC 35-3031 on the LCA before signing.
Watch for tip-credit states when reading offers
In tipped-occupation states, some employers structure base pay near the federal tipped minimum and cite prevailing wage compliance separately. For sponsored positions, the total guaranteed wage on the LCA must meet the DOL prevailing wage floor regardless of tip earnings.
Factor in metro concentration before targeting cities
Hawaii and Pacific Northwest metros consistently produce the highest prevailing wages for Food Servers, while Gulf Coast and Deep South metros sit near the national floor. Targeting a high-wage metro can shift your applicable wage level floor substantially.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsoring restaurant employers
Migrate Mate shows which restaurant groups and hospitality employers have sponsored Waiters and Waitresses in the past, so you can focus your search on operators with an established H-1B or green card filing history for this specific occupation.
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Find Jobs for Waiters and WaitressesPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 35-3031.00 alongside Waiters and Waitresses, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Banquet Server Prevailing Wage
Banquet Server Prevailing Wage
Banquet Server positions fall under SOC 35-3031.00 (Waiters and Waitresses). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Busser Prevailing Wage
Busser Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Busser for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 35-3031.00 (Waiters and Waitresses). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Cocktail Server Prevailing Wage
Cocktail Server Prevailing Wage
Cocktail Server is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 35-3031.00 (Waiters and Waitresses). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Food Runner Prevailing Wage
Food Runner Prevailing Wage
Food Runner positions fall under SOC 35-3031.00 (Waiters and Waitresses). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Food Server Prevailing Wage
Food Server Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Food Server for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 35-3031.00 (Waiters and Waitresses). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Restaurant Server Prevailing Wage
Restaurant Server Prevailing Wage
Restaurant Server is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 35-3031.00 (Waiters and Waitresses). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Room Service Server Prevailing Wage
Room Service Server Prevailing Wage
Room Service Server positions fall under SOC 35-3031.00 (Waiters and Waitresses). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Server Prevailing Wage
Server Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Server for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 35-3031.00 (Waiters and Waitresses). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Waiter Prevailing Wage
Waiter Prevailing Wage
Waiter is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 35-3031.00 (Waiters and Waitresses). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Waitress Prevailing Wage
Waitress Prevailing Wage
Waitress positions fall under SOC 35-3031.00 (Waiters and Waitresses). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Waiters and Waitresses?
DOL derives prevailing wages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, which collects wage data by occupation and metropolitan area. For SOC 35-3031, OFLC converts those survey figures into four experience-based wage levels. Employers must certify on the Labor Condition Application that they will pay at least the applicable level for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
Level 1 covers entry-level servers with limited experience working under close supervision. Level 2 applies to servers working independently in a standard section and is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 reflects experienced servers with broader responsibilities such as training or banquet work. Level 4 applies to senior or lead roles directing other staff. Your employer selects the level that matches your actual duties and experience at the specific worksite.
Why does the prevailing wage for a Food Server vary so much from city to city?
OFLC calculates wages using regional OES survey data, so the floor reflects local labor market conditions rather than a single national figure. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, and the prevailing wage is drawn from the metropolitan statistical area covering that location. Dense urban markets with high hospitality demand and strong minimum wage laws, such as Seattle or Honolulu, produce significantly higher floors than rural or low-wage Southern metros.
What happens if an employer offers below the prevailing wage for a sponsored server position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA if the offered wage is below the applicable prevailing wage for that worksite and level. USCIS will not approve an H-1B or other sponsored status built on a non-compliant LCA. If a discrepancy is found after filing, DOL can assess back wages, civil penalties, and debarment. You should not accept or proceed with a sponsored offer where the documented wage falls below the DOL floor.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. city for this occupation?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool on the DOL website to look up SOC 35-3031 wages by metropolitan area. Enter the worksite city or metropolitan statistical area and select the applicable experience level to see the current floor. You can also review recently certified LCA disclosure data published by OFLC to see what wages other employers have filed for Waiters and Waitresses in the same market. Migrate Mate lists restaurant and hospitality employers with confirmed sponsorship history, so you can cross-reference which operators are actively filing in your target city.
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