Waiter and Waitress Salary in Bloomington, IL
Waiters and Waitresses in the Bloomington, IL metro area earn a median $31,200 a year — 11% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,850 take-home, or $2,154 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Bloomington, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,564
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,934
- Medicare (1.45%)$452
- Illinois income tax$1,400
- Take-home pay$25,850
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Bloomington, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| Median (50th) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| 75th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,870 | $22.53 | $37,665 | $3,139 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,200 buys in Bloomington, IL
Prices in Bloomington, IL are 6.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 25% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $25,850 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,636 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 Bloomington, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Bloomington, IL ranks #207 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 |
| 207 | Bloomington, IL | $31,200 | $25,850 | $27,636 |
*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 Illinois
- Decatur, IL — $31,200
- Peoria, IL — $31,200
- Rockford, IL — $31,200
- Champaign, IL — $31,200
- Springfield, IL — $31,200
- Kankakee, IL — $31,200
- Chicago, IL — $31,200
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Bloomington, IL?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Bloomington, IL metro area is $31,200 a year, or about $15.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,200 and $31,200.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Bloomington, IL?
On the median $31,200 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $25,850 a year ($2,154 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,400 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Bloomington, IL a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 11% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 6.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,636 would in a typical U.S. city. Bloomington, IL ranks #207 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Bloomington, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Bloomington, IL is $999 a month ($1,302 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Bloomington, IL
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,950
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,780
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,310
- Food Preparation Worker — $32,030
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,200
- Bartender — $31,200