Waiter and Waitress Salary in Davenport, IA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metro area earn a median $31,200 a year — 11% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,715 take-home, or $2,226 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Davenport, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,564
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,934
- Medicare (1.45%)$452
- Iowa income tax$534
- Take-home pay$26,715
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
The Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metro spans Iowa, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Davenport, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 | $13,926 | $1,161 |
| 25th percentile | $18,460 | $8.88 | $16,762 | $1,397 |
| Median (50th) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $26,715 | $2,226 |
| 75th percentile | $31,650 | $15.22 | $27,060 | $2,255 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,190 | $22.69 | $38,956 | $3,246 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,200 buys in Davenport, IA
Prices in Davenport, IA are 10.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 32% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $26,715 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,991 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 Davenport, IA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.02).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Davenport, IA ranks #69 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 |
| 69 | Davenport, IA | $31,200 | $26,715 | $29,991 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 148 metros →
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in Iowa
- Des Moines, IA — $20,410
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Davenport, IA?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metro area is $31,200 a year, or about $15.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $18,460 and $31,650.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Davenport, IA?
On the median $31,200 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $26,715 a year ($2,226 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $534 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Davenport, IA a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 11% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 10.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,991 would in a typical U.S. city. Davenport, IA ranks #69 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Davenport, IA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Davenport, IA is $928 a month ($1,143 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Davenport, IA
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,200