Waiter and Waitress Salary in Bozeman, MT
Waiters and Waitresses in the Bozeman, MT metro area earn a median $26,380 a year — 25% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $22,851 take-home, or $1,904 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Bozeman, MT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,028
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,636
- Medicare (1.45%)$383
- Montana income tax$483
- Take-home pay$22,851
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 4.70% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Bozeman, MT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,910 | $11.01 | $20,156 | $1,680 |
| 25th percentile | $23,990 | $11.53 | $20,995 | $1,750 |
| Median (50th) | $26,380 | $12.68 | $22,851 | $1,904 |
| 75th percentile | $34,080 | $16.38 | $28,718 | $2,393 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,150 | $24.59 | $41,632 | $3,469 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Montana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $26,380 buys in Bozeman, MT
Prices in Bozeman, MT are 2.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.39× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $22,851 take-home pay has the buying power of $22,291 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 Bozeman, MT as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.13).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Bozeman, MT ranks #309 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 |
| 309 | Bozeman, MT | $26,380 | $22,851 | $22,291 |
*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 Montana
- Billings, MT — $22,940
- Helena, MT — $23,020
- Missoula, MT — $23,210
- Great Falls, MT — $22,270
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Bozeman, MT?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Bozeman, MT metro area is $26,380 a year, or about $12.68 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $23,990 and $34,080.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Bozeman, MT?
On the median $26,380 salary, a single filer living in Montana takes home about $22,851 a year ($1,904 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $483 in Montana taxes in 2026.
Is Bozeman, MT a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 25% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 2.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $22,291 would in a typical U.S. city. Bozeman, MT ranks #309 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Bozeman, MT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Bozeman, MT is $1,642 a month ($2,154 for two bedrooms) — 86% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Bozeman, MT
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $48,290
- Cooks, Restaurant — $42,430
- Food Preparation Worker — $38,260
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,840
- Bartender — $27,040