Waiter and Waitress Salary in Boulder, CO
Waiters and Waitresses in the Boulder, CO metro area earn a median $49,870 a year — 42% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,765 take-home, or $3,397 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Boulder, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,804
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,092
- Medicare (1.45%)$723
- Colorado income tax$1,486
- Take-home pay$40,765
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Boulder, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,800 | $16.25 | $28,560 | $2,380 |
| 25th percentile | $35,360 | $17.00 | $29,744 | $2,479 |
| Median (50th) | $49,870 | $23.98 | $40,765 | $3,397 |
| 75th percentile | $71,880 | $34.56 | $56,943 | $4,745 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,920 | $38.90 | $62,905 | $5,242 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,870 buys in Boulder, CO
Prices in Boulder, CO are 5.2% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.57× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $40,765 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,749 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 Boulder, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Boulder, CO ranks #23 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 |
| 23 | Boulder, CO | $49,870 | $40,765 | $38,749 |
*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 Colorado
- Pueblo, CO — $45,500
- Fort Collins, CO — $47,360
- Greeley, CO — $46,480
- Grand Junction, CO — $43,730
- Colorado Springs, CO — $46,230
- Denver, CO — $39,650
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Boulder, CO?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Boulder, CO metro area is $49,870 a year, or about $23.98 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,360 and $71,880.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Boulder, CO?
On the median $49,870 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $40,765 a year ($3,397 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,486 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Boulder, CO a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 42% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 5.2% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,749 would in a typical U.S. city. Boulder, CO ranks #23 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Boulder, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boulder, CO is $1,795 a month ($2,124 for two bedrooms) — 53% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boulder, CO
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $52,020
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $48,020
- Bartender — $42,520
- Cooks, Restaurant — $42,220
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,690
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $38,930
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $38,220
- Dishwasher — $37,750
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $37,460
- Cooks, Fast Food — $36,250
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,190