Waiter and Waitress Salary in Dothan, AL
Waiters and Waitresses in the Dothan, AL metro area earn a median $24,520 a year — 30% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $20,841 take-home, or $1,737 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Dothan, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$842
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,520
- Medicare (1.45%)$356
- Alabama income tax$961
- Take-home pay$20,841
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 5.00% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Dothan, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,750 | $7.57 | $14,023 | $1,169 |
| 25th percentile | $18,090 | $8.70 | $15,868 | $1,322 |
| Median (50th) | $24,520 | $11.79 | $20,841 | $1,737 |
| 75th percentile | $27,440 | $13.19 | $23,100 | $1,925 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,430 | $16.55 | $28,388 | $2,366 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $24,520 buys in Dothan, AL
Prices in Dothan, AL are 16.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 53% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $20,841 take-home pay has the buying power of $24,860 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 Dothan, AL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.08).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Dothan, AL ranks #276 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 |
| 276 | Dothan, AL | $24,520 | $20,841 | $24,860 |
*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
- Montgomery, AL — $26,360
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Dothan, AL?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Dothan, AL metro area is $24,520 a year, or about $11.79 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $18,090 and $27,440.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Dothan, AL?
On the median $24,520 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $20,841 a year ($1,737 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $961 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Dothan, AL a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 30% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 16.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $24,860 would in a typical U.S. city. Dothan, AL ranks #276 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Dothan, AL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dothan, AL is $751 a month ($942 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Dothan, AL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $35,570
- Cooks, Restaurant — $29,710
- Food Preparation Worker — $26,580
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,020
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,360