Waiter and Waitress Salary in Detroit, MI
Waiters and Waitresses in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median $37,490 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,961 take-home, or $2,580 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Detroit, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,319
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,324
- Medicare (1.45%)$544
- Michigan income tax$1,343
- Take-home pay$30,961
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Detroit, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,960 | $12.48 | $22,136 | $1,845 |
| 25th percentile | $28,770 | $13.83 | $24,325 | $2,027 |
| Median (50th) | $37,490 | $18.02 | $30,961 | $2,580 |
| 75th percentile | $59,530 | $28.62 | $47,733 | $3,978 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,210 | $30.87 | $51,295 | $4,275 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,490 buys in Detroit, MI
Prices in Detroit, MI are 0.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 5% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $30,961 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,869 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 Detroit, MI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.05).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Detroit, MI ranks #134 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 |
| 134 | Detroit, MI | $37,490 | $30,961 | $30,869 |
*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 Michigan
- Muskegon, MI — $44,920
- Flint, MI — $44,030
- Grand Rapids, MI — $42,930
- Traverse City, MI — $41,380
- Bay City, MI — $40,500
- Jackson, MI — $39,920
- Saginaw, MI — $39,430
- Monroe, MI — $38,780
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Detroit, MI?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $37,490 a year, or about $18.02 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,770 and $59,530.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Detroit, MI?
On the median $37,490 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $30,961 a year ($2,580 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,343 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Detroit, MI a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,869 would in a typical U.S. city. Detroit, MI ranks #134 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Detroit, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Detroit, MI is $1,128 a month ($1,413 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Detroit, MI
- Chef and Head Cook — $60,870
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,570
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,410
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,360
- Bartender — $36,780
- Cooks, Short Order — $35,630
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,170
- Dishwasher — $34,350
- Food Preparation Worker — $33,060
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $30,760
- Cooks, Fast Food — $29,810
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,590