Waiter and Waitress Salary in Boston, MA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $39,270 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,990 take-home, or $2,666 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,532
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,435
- Medicare (1.45%)$569
- Massachusetts income tax$1,744
- Take-home pay$31,990
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,930 | $15.35 | $26,459 | $2,205 |
| 25th percentile | $35,880 | $17.25 | $29,436 | $2,453 |
| Median (50th) | $39,270 | $18.88 | $31,990 | $2,666 |
| 75th percentile | $45,910 | $22.07 | $36,993 | $3,083 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,150 | $30.84 | $50,737 | $4,228 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,270 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $31,990 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,548 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 Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.05).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #157 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 |
| 157 | Boston, MA | $39,270 | $31,990 | $29,548 |
*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 Massachusetts
- Barnstable Town, MA — $38,380
- Pittsfield, MA — $35,950
- Springfield, MA — $36,170
- Amherst Town, MA — $36,650
- Worcester, MA — $36,840
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Boston, MA?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $39,270 a year, or about $18.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,880 and $45,910.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $39,270 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $31,990 a year ($2,666 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,744 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,548 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #157 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 85% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Chef and Head Cook — $72,470
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $48,530
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $47,090
- Cooks, Restaurant — $45,830
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,660
- Cooks, Short Order — $39,600
- Bartender — $37,760
- Dishwasher — $37,750
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $37,330
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,290
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $35,140
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,780