Waiter and Waitress Salary in Cleveland, OH
Waiters and Waitresses in the Cleveland, OH metro area earn a median $36,260 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,100 take-home, or $2,592 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Cleveland, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,171
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,248
- Medicare (1.45%)$526
- Ohio income tax$215
- Take-home pay$31,100
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Cleveland, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,220 | $11.64 | $21,555 | $1,796 |
| 25th percentile | $29,050 | $13.97 | $25,505 | $2,125 |
| Median (50th) | $36,260 | $17.43 | $31,100 | $2,592 |
| 75th percentile | $46,940 | $22.57 | $39,388 | $3,282 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,600 | $36.83 | $61,394 | $5,116 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,260 buys in Cleveland, OH
Prices in Cleveland, OH are 6.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $31,100 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,112 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 Cleveland, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Cleveland, OH ranks #81 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 |
| 81 | Cleveland, OH | $36,260 | $31,100 | $33,112 |
*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 Ohio
- Lima, OH — $36,720
- Canton, OH — $36,210
- Springfield, OH — $36,060
- Mansfield, OH — $35,170
- Toledo, OH — $36,140
- Dayton, OH — $36,600
- Columbus, OH — $37,490
- Youngstown, OH — $33,910
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Cleveland, OH?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Cleveland, OH metro area is $36,260 a year, or about $17.43 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,050 and $46,940.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Cleveland, OH?
On the median $36,260 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $31,100 a year ($2,592 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $215 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Cleveland, OH a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 6.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,112 would in a typical U.S. city. Cleveland, OH ranks #81 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Cleveland, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Cleveland, OH is $1,048 a month ($1,268 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Cleveland, OH
- Chef and Head Cook — $57,020
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,700
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,060
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,930
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,360
- Bartender — $33,470
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $30,350
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,400
- Dishwasher — $29,360
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,750
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $27,700
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,060