Waiter and Waitress Salary in Atlanta, GA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $18,460 a year — 48% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $16,477 take-home, or $1,373 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$236
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,145
- Medicare (1.45%)$268
- Georgia income tax$335
- Take-home pay$16,477
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 5.19% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 | $13,767 | $1,147 |
| 25th percentile | $15,080 | $7.25 | $13,767 | $1,147 |
| Median (50th) | $18,460 | $8.88 | $16,477 | $1,373 |
| 75th percentile | $36,760 | $17.67 | $30,432 | $2,536 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,800 | $22.50 | $37,978 | $3,165 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $18,460 buys in Atlanta, GA
Prices in Atlanta, GA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.11× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $16,477 take-home pay has the buying power of $16,467 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Waiter and Waitress jobs are about as common in Atlanta, GA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #366 of 375 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $82,550 | $62,160 | $56,823 |
| 2 | Burlington, VT | $61,620 | $50,061 | $49,591 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | $56,700 | $47,738 | $46,198 |
| 4 | Bremerton, WA | $55,270 | $46,589 | $44,116 |
| 5 | Mount Vernon, WA | $53,060 | $44,814 | $43,745 |
| 6 | Yakima, WA | $49,060 | $41,600 | $43,539 |
| 7 | Kennewick, WA | $51,460 | $43,528 | $43,494 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 366 | Atlanta, GA | $18,460 | $16,477 | $16,467 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 375 metros →
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in Georgia
- Columbus, GA — $20,800
- Rome, GA — $20,980
- Athens, GA — $21,090
- Savannah, GA — $20,830
- Valdosta, GA — $18,510
- Albany, GA — $18,330
- Brunswick, GA — $18,250
- Warner Robins, GA — $19,070
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Atlanta, GA?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $18,460 a year, or about $8.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $15,080 and $36,760.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $18,460 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $16,477 a year ($1,373 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $335 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 48% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $16,467 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #366 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Atlanta, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is $1,646 a month ($1,806 for two bedrooms) — 120% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Atlanta, GA
- Chef and Head Cook — $74,660
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,240
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,230
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,080
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,090
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $33,560
- Dishwasher — $31,780
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,470
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,560
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,780
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $27,280
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,940