Yes, Carol, waiters and waitresses make FAR less than anyone else. Not sure what the exact amount is, but a waitress will only make $4 base salary when someone else makes $10 base salary. A good waitress in a good restaurant can walk out every day with over $100 in tips. but when they have a bad day,. its a baaad day. My MIL was a waitress and worked til 74 years old and was forced by cancer to stop. She LOVED her job, loved her regular customers, and made good money... but worked HARD and never relied on the base salary for anything.