Washington State Servers are the Best Paid in America

Seattle-area servers earned annualized wages of almost $30,000 last year -- the highest in the U.S. -- according to a report from 27/4 Wall St. That's more than 40 percent of the national average of $20,880, although "Washington tippers are not overly generous," averaging just shy of 16 percent in 2013.

According to the report that uses data from Square, Seattle, Bellevue, and Everett's "waiters benefit from the high volume of tips -- more than 60% -- and high median incomes, which were roughly $68,000." Also, at $9.32 (for now) Washington has the highest minimum wage in the United States. Spokane was ranked fourth, Bellingham fifth, and Olympia eighth in the nation for best paid servers.