A cocktail waitress serves drinks in settings such as bars, nightclubs, casinos and resorts. The typical pay for a cocktail waitress varies depending upon the demographics and region where the job is located, as well as the hours worked and the type of establishment. Cocktail waitresses usually work for an hourly wage and tips rather than salaries, and can either earn individual tips or work on a shared system where tips are split between waiters, bartenders and hostesses.
Tips are typically around 20% of the bill but can vary depending on the customer’s level of satisfaction. On a busy night, it is not uncommon for a cocktail waitress to make $150+ in tips, which can add up to a significant amount of money over the course of a month or year.
National Averages for Cocktail Waitress Salaries
The jobs website PayScale lists the average hourly cocktail waitress pay as $8.98, effective September 2020. Reported hourly cocktail waitress pay ranged from $3 to $13, while annual cocktail waitress wages, as reported, ranged from $9,613 to $45,549. Six-figure salaries are not impossible to attain, but its difficult to confirm actual numbers. Cocktail waitresses with high take-home pay are typically reluctant to talk to the media because they do not want to attract the attention of tax authorities and risk an audit.
Average Cocktail Waitress Wages
Exact figures for cocktail waitress pay can be difficult to determine, both because of varied earnings within the industry and because reported earnings may not include tip income. Also, many cocktail waitresses work part-time hours. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which tracks data for nearly all civilian jobs, does not have a separate category for cocktail waitresses. Instead, the BLS has a single category for waiters and waitresses, and it listed the median 2019 salary for individuals in this profession as $22,890 per year, or $11.00 per hour. Median earnings mean that half the people made more, while half made less.
Location means a lot in terms of average annual income for servers, waitresses, bartenders and others working in the hospitality industry. A cocktail waitress in New York City, for example, can expect to make more than in areas that are not tourist destinations. The main reason is that people on vacation or attending business conventions tend to spend more money and tip better than those who arent.
A job as a cocktail waitress is not necessarily a mere stepping stone in resort cities such as Las Vegas and Miami, or on casinos and cruise ships. Cocktail waitresses in lucrative locations often find that they cant exceed their earnings in another type of job.
COCKTAIL SERVER TIPS | THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
FAQ
Do cocktail waitresses make good money?
What is the average amount a waitress makes in tips?
Do waitresses make good money with tips?
Is it hard being a cocktail waitress?
How much does a cocktail waitress make a month?
Tips are typically around 20% of the bill but can vary depending on the customer’s level of satisfaction. On a busy night, it is not uncommon for a cocktail waitress to make $150+ in tips, which can add up to a significant amount of money over the course of a month or year.
How do I become a cocktail waitress?
First, you’ll need to be at least 18 years old and have some experience serving drinks or working in the hospitality industry. It’s also important to be able to work long hours, as most jobs require late-night shifts. To find cocktail waitress jobs, your best bet is to search online job boards or Facebook.
How much do waiters & waitresses get paid per hour?
Waiters and waitresses in Miami, Boston, and San Francisco reported the highest median tips per hour at around $13. The lowest median tips per hour for waiters and waitresses—around $7—were in Minneapolis, Detroit, and Seattle. This is consistent with the BLS’s finding that tips are generally higher in metropolitan areas and regions with resorts.
How do I find a cocktail waitress job?
To find cocktail waitress jobs, your best bet is to search online job boards or Facebook. You can also check with local bars and restaurants in your area, walk in, and ask. Be sure to note down any experience you have that could be relevant for a cocktail waitress job, such as bartending or customer service experience.