Waiter and Waitress Salary in Cape Coral, FL
Waiters and Waitresses in the Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL metro area earn a median $36,660 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,636 take-home, or $2,636 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Cape Coral, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,219
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,273
- Medicare (1.45%)$532
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$31,636
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Cape Coral, FL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,320 | $13.62 | $24,932 | $2,078 |
| 25th percentile | $29,470 | $14.17 | $25,859 | $2,155 |
| Median (50th) | $36,660 | $17.63 | $31,636 | $2,636 |
| 75th percentile | $47,770 | $22.97 | $40,563 | $3,380 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,210 | $30.87 | $53,773 | $4,481 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,660 buys in Cape Coral, FL
Prices in Cape Coral, FL are 2.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.25× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $31,636 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,910 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cape Coral, FL has 1.8× 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
Cape Coral, FL ranks #57 of 148 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 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $60,250 | $47,542 | $42,846 |
| 4 | Spokane, WA | $48,560 | $41,198 | $41,056 |
| 5 | Syracuse, NY | $47,640 | $38,483 | $40,195 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $54,780 | $42,232 | $40,060 |
| 7 | Albany, NY | $48,980 | $39,488 | $39,660 |
| 8 | Buffalo, NY | $46,580 | $37,689 | $39,323 |
| 57 | Cape Coral, FL | $36,660 | $31,636 | $30,910 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 148 metros →
About the job: waiters and waitresses
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in Florida
- Crestview, FL — $37,370
- Tallahassee, FL — $34,850
- Jacksonville, FL — $36,630
- Tampa, FL — $37,070
- Gainesville, FL — $35,400
- Palm Bay, FL — $36,670
- Lakeland, FL — $35,270
- Naples, FL — $37,550
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Cape Coral, FL?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL metro area is $36,660 a year, or about $17.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,470 and $47,770.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Cape Coral, FL?
On the median $36,660 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $31,636 a year ($2,636 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Cape Coral, FL a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 2.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,910 would in a typical U.S. city. Cape Coral, FL ranks #57 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Cape Coral, FL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Cape Coral, FL is $1,638 a month ($1,961 for two bedrooms) — 62% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Cape Coral, FL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,990
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,240
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,560
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,360