Accommodation and Food Services Employment and Wages in 2024

In 2024, the Accommodation and Food Services industry employed over 14.2 million people in the United States, reflecting an increase of 2.3% from 2023. The annual mean wage in 2024 was $37,960, and the median wage was $34,440. Compared to the national average, the wages in this industry group were lower by 44.1%.

Industry Sub-Groups

Among the industry sub-groups, Food Services and Drinking Places held the largest number of jobs within the Accommodation and Food Services industry, employing over 12.2 million people in 2024. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $36,860, with a median wage of $34,010. There was an increase in wage variance to the national average compared to 2023, with the variance shifting from -46.2% to -45.7%, indicating industry wages outpaced national wage trends.

Accommodation accounted for a substantial employment share, with 2 million people employed in 2024. The annual mean wage for this sub-group was $44,700, and the median wage was $36,830. In terms of wage variance to the national average, there was an increase compared to 2023, with the variance shifting from -35.2% to -34.2%.

The sub-group of N/A also had considerable industry employment, with approximately 0 thousand people employed in 2024. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $0,0 and the median wage was $0,0. The wage variance to the national average experienced a decrease compared to 2023, with the variance shifting from 0% to 0%.

Highest Employment Occupations

When we examine the top occupations in terms of employment within the Accommodation and Food Services industry, we find that First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers had the highest annual mean wage in 2024, at $44,040, and a median wage of $39,520. The industry variance to the national average was -1.9%. Bartenders had an annual mean wage of $41,000 and a median wage of $34,020. The industry variance to the national average was 2.8%. Waiters and Waitresses had an annual mean wage of $38,420 and a median wage of $33,710. The industry variance to the national average was 0.2%.

Conversely, notable occupations with lower wages within the Accommodation and Food Services industry included Cooks, Fast Food, with an annual mean wage of $31,110 and a median wage of $30,140. The industry variance to the national average was -0.1%. Fast Food and Counter Workers had an annual mean wage of $31,010 and a median wage of $30,140. The industry variance to the national average was -1.1%. Food Preparation Workers had an annual mean wage of $32,990 and a median wage of $33,280. The industry variance to the national average was -2.8%.

Summary

Despite employing over 14.2 million people in 2024, the Accommodation and Food Services industry continues to rank among the lowest-paying sectors in the U.S. economy, with wages trailing the national average by 44.1%. While employment grew by 2.3% from the previous year and some sub-groups like Accommodation saw modest wage gains, overall compensation in the industry remains significantly depressed. The majority of workers, particularly in roles such as fast food workers and food preparation staff, earn well below national wage benchmarks. Even higher-employment roles like supervisors and bartenders remain modestly underpaid by national standards. These trends highlight ongoing structural wage challenges in a sector that plays a vital role in the American service economy.