Waiter and Waitress Salary in Columbus, IN
Waiters and Waitresses in the Columbus, IN metro area earn a median $26,340 a year — 25% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $22,553 take-home, or $1,879 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Columbus, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,024
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,633
- Medicare (1.45%)$382
- Indiana income tax$748
- Take-home pay$22,553
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 2.95% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Columbus, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,790 | $8.07 | $14,971 | $1,248 |
| 25th percentile | $18,510 | $8.90 | $16,336 | $1,361 |
| Median (50th) | $26,340 | $12.66 | $22,553 | $1,879 |
| 75th percentile | $36,210 | $17.41 | $30,236 | $2,520 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,380 | $22.78 | $38,882 | $3,240 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $26,340 buys in Columbus, IN
Prices in Columbus, IN are 7.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 25% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $22,553 take-home pay has the buying power of $24,250 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 less concentrated in Columbus, IN than nationally (location quotient 0.67), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Columbus, IN ranks #285 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 |
| 285 | Columbus, IN | $26,340 | $22,553 | $24,250 |
*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 Indiana
- Kokomo, IN — $28,420
- Evansville, IN — $28,550
- Elkhart, IN — $28,060
- Fort Wayne, IN — $28,650
- South Bend, IN — $28,740
- Michigan City, IN — $28,260
- Lafayette, IN — $28,420
- Terre Haute, IN — $26,520
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Columbus, IN?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Columbus, IN metro area is $26,340 a year, or about $12.66 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $18,510 and $36,210.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Columbus, IN?
On the median $26,340 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $22,553 a year ($1,879 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $748 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, IN a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 25% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 7.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $24,250 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, IN ranks #285 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Columbus, IN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbus, IN is $1,257 a month ($1,415 for two bedrooms) — 67% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbus, IN
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,290