Waiter and Waitress Salary in Daphne, AL
Waiters and Waitresses in the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL metro area earn a median $27,080 a year — 23% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $22,821 take-home, or $1,902 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Daphne, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,098
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,679
- Medicare (1.45%)$393
- Alabama income tax$1,089
- Take-home pay$22,821
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 5.00% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Daphne, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,680 | $8.02 | $14,777 | $1,231 |
| 25th percentile | $20,840 | $10.02 | $17,995 | $1,500 |
| Median (50th) | $27,080 | $13.02 | $22,821 | $1,902 |
| 75th percentile | $28,770 | $13.83 | $24,123 | $2,010 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,370 | $18.45 | $31,357 | $2,613 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $27,080 buys in Daphne, AL
Prices in Daphne, AL are 5.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $22,821 take-home pay has the buying power of $24,101 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Daphne, AL has 2.5× 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
Daphne, AL ranks #286 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 |
| 286 | Daphne, AL | $27,080 | $22,821 | $24,101 |
*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 Alabama
- Decatur, AL — $27,010
- Florence, AL — $25,990
- Tuscaloosa, AL — $26,930
- Mobile, AL — $26,860
- Auburn, AL — $26,470
- Birmingham, AL — $27,670
- Huntsville, AL — $27,990
- Dothan, AL — $24,520
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Daphne, AL?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL metro area is $27,080 a year, or about $13.02 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $20,840 and $28,770.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Daphne, AL?
On the median $27,080 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $22,821 a year ($1,902 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,089 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Daphne, AL a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 23% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 5.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $24,101 would in a typical U.S. city. Daphne, AL ranks #286 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Daphne, AL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Daphne, AL is $1,200 a month ($1,345 for two bedrooms) — 63% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Daphne, AL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,050
- Cooks, Restaurant — $33,850
- Food Preparation Worker — $28,490
- Bartender — $28,360
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,000
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $26,870
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $23,000