Waiter and Waitress Salary in Colorado Springs, CO
Waiters and Waitresses in the Colorado Springs, CO metro area earn a median $46,230 a year — 31% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,000 take-home, or $3,167 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Colorado Springs, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,368
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,866
- Medicare (1.45%)$670
- Colorado income tax$1,326
- Take-home pay$38,000
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Colorado Springs, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,800 | $14.81 | $26,281 | $2,190 |
| 25th percentile | $31,880 | $15.33 | $27,101 | $2,258 |
| Median (50th) | $46,230 | $22.23 | $38,000 | $3,167 |
| 75th percentile | $62,530 | $30.06 | $50,380 | $4,198 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,220 | $37.61 | $61,124 | $5,094 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,230 buys in Colorado Springs, CO
Prices in Colorado Springs, CO are 0.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.16× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $38,000 take-home pay has the buying power of $37,733 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 Colorado Springs, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Colorado Springs, CO ranks #13 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 |
| 13 | Colorado Springs, CO | $46,230 | $38,000 | $37,733 |
*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 Colorado
- Boulder, CO — $49,870
- Fort Collins, CO — $47,360
- Denver, CO — $39,650
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Colorado Springs, CO?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Colorado Springs, CO metro area is $46,230 a year, or about $22.23 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,880 and $62,530.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Colorado Springs, CO?
On the median $46,230 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $38,000 a year ($3,167 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,326 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Colorado Springs, CO a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 31% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 0.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $37,733 would in a typical U.S. city. Colorado Springs, CO ranks #13 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Colorado Springs, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Colorado Springs, CO is $1,461 a month ($1,727 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Colorado Springs, CO
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,390
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,000
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,420