Waiter and Waitress Salary in Denver, CO
Waiters and Waitresses in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $39,650 a year — 13% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $33,003 take-home, or $2,750 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,578
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,458
- Medicare (1.45%)$575
- Colorado income tax$1,036
- Take-home pay$33,003
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,010 | $14.91 | $26,440 | $2,203 |
| 25th percentile | $33,770 | $16.24 | $28,537 | $2,378 |
| Median (50th) | $39,650 | $19.06 | $33,003 | $2,750 |
| 75th percentile | $74,180 | $35.66 | $58,460 | $4,872 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,380 | $37.68 | $61,230 | $5,103 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,650 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $33,003 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,199 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 Denver, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #123 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 |
| 123 | Denver, CO | $39,650 | $33,003 | $31,199 |
*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 Colorado
- Pueblo, CO — $45,500
- Boulder, CO — $49,870
- Fort Collins, CO — $47,360
- Greeley, CO — $46,480
- Grand Junction, CO — $43,730
- Colorado Springs, CO — $46,230
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Denver, CO?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $39,650 a year, or about $19.06 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,770 and $74,180.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $39,650 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $33,003 a year ($2,750 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,036 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 13% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,199 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #123 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 64% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Chef and Head Cook — $66,970
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $52,520
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $45,070
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,370
- Cooks, Short Order — $44,200
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $39,850
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,470
- Dishwasher — $38,710
- Cooks, Fast Food — $38,530
- Bartender — $37,180
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $37,070
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $36,880