Waiter and Waitress Salary in Columbus, GA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area earn a median $20,800 a year — 41% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $18,282 take-home, or $1,524 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Columbus, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$470
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,290
- Medicare (1.45%)$302
- Georgia income tax$457
- Take-home pay$18,282
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 5.19% state
The Columbus, GA-AL metro spans Georgia, Alabama. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Columbus, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 | $13,767 | $1,147 |
| 25th percentile | $15,080 | $7.25 | $13,767 | $1,147 |
| Median (50th) | $20,800 | $10.00 | $18,282 | $1,524 |
| 75th percentile | $31,420 | $15.11 | $26,418 | $2,202 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,160 | $20.75 | $35,242 | $2,937 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $20,800 buys in Columbus, GA
Prices in Columbus, GA are 10.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 39% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $18,282 take-home pay has the buying power of $20,474 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Columbus, GA has 1.2× 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
Columbus, GA ranks #339 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 |
| 339 | Columbus, GA | $20,800 | $18,282 | $20,474 |
*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 Georgia
- Rome, GA — $20,980
- Athens, GA — $21,090
- Savannah, GA — $20,830
- Valdosta, GA — $18,510
- Albany, GA — $18,330
- Brunswick, GA — $18,250
- Warner Robins, GA — $19,070
- Macon, GA — $17,830
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Columbus, GA?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area is $20,800 a year, or about $10.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $15,080 and $31,420.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Columbus, GA?
On the median $20,800 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $18,282 a year ($1,524 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $457 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, GA a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 41% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 10.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $20,474 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, GA ranks #339 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Columbus, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbus, GA is $936 a month ($1,084 for two bedrooms) — 61% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbus, GA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,180
- Cooks, Restaurant — $30,470
- Food Preparation Worker — $29,030
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,560
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $23,300