Waiter and Waitress Salary in Bloomington, IN
Waiters and Waitresses in the Bloomington, IN metro area earn a median $28,540 a year — 19% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,299 take-home, or $2,025 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Bloomington, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,245
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,769
- Medicare (1.45%)$414
- Indiana income tax$812
- Take-home pay$24,299
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Bloomington, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,270 | $8.30 | $15,352 | $1,279 |
| 25th percentile | $20,950 | $10.07 | $18,274 | $1,523 |
| Median (50th) | $28,540 | $13.72 | $24,299 | $2,025 |
| 75th percentile | $35,770 | $17.20 | $29,895 | $2,491 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,630 | $22.42 | $38,301 | $3,192 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,540 buys in Bloomington, IN
Prices in Bloomington, IN are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 14% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $24,299 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,556 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Bloomington, IN has 1.5× 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
Bloomington, IN ranks #269 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 |
| 269 | Bloomington, IN | $28,540 | $24,299 | $25,556 |
*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 Indiana
- Kokomo, IN — $28,420
- Evansville, IN — $28,550
- Elkhart, IN — $28,060
- Fort Wayne, IN — $28,650
- South Bend, IN — $28,740
- Michigan City, IN — $28,260
- Lafayette, IN — $28,420
- Terre Haute, IN — $26,520
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Bloomington, IN?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Bloomington, IN metro area is $28,540 a year, or about $13.72 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $20,950 and $35,770.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Bloomington, IN?
On the median $28,540 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $24,299 a year ($2,025 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $812 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Bloomington, IN a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 19% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,556 would in a typical U.S. city. Bloomington, IN ranks #269 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Bloomington, IN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Bloomington, IN is $1,036 a month ($1,176 for two bedrooms) — 51% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Bloomington, IN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,250
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,230
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,910
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,230
- Bartender — $22,370