Waiter and Waitress Salary in Auburn, AL
Waiters and Waitresses in the Auburn-Opelika, AL metro area earn a median $26,470 a year — 25% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $22,350 take-home, or $1,862 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Auburn, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,037
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,641
- Medicare (1.45%)$384
- Alabama income tax$1,059
- Take-home pay$22,350
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 5.00% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Auburn, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,630 | $8.00 | $14,738 | $1,228 |
| 25th percentile | $20,660 | $9.93 | $17,856 | $1,488 |
| Median (50th) | $26,470 | $12.73 | $22,350 | $1,862 |
| 75th percentile | $28,250 | $13.58 | $23,726 | $1,977 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,040 | $16.85 | $28,848 | $2,404 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $26,470 buys in Auburn, AL
Prices in Auburn, AL are 12.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 38% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $22,350 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,417 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Auburn, AL has 1.2× the national concentration of waiter and waitress jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Auburn, AL ranks #270 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 |
| 270 | Auburn, AL | $26,470 | $22,350 | $25,417 |
*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 Alabama
- Decatur, AL — $27,010
- Florence, AL — $25,990
- Tuscaloosa, AL — $26,930
- Mobile, AL — $26,860
- Birmingham, AL — $27,670
- Huntsville, AL — $27,990
- Dothan, AL — $24,520
- Montgomery, AL — $26,360
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Auburn, AL?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Auburn-Opelika, AL metro area is $26,470 a year, or about $12.73 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $20,660 and $28,250.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Auburn, AL?
On the median $26,470 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $22,350 a year ($1,862 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,059 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Auburn, AL a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 25% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 12.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,417 would in a typical U.S. city. Auburn, AL ranks #270 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Auburn, AL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Auburn, AL is $1,045 a month ($1,163 for two bedrooms) — 56% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Auburn, AL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,470
- Cooks, Restaurant — $30,580
- Food Preparation Worker — $28,770
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,120
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $24,600