Waiter and Waitress Salary in Dover, DE
Waiters and Waitresses in the Dover, DE metro area earn a median $36,030 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,807 take-home, or $2,484 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Dover, DE. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,144
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,234
- Medicare (1.45%)$522
- Delaware income tax$1,323
- Take-home pay$29,807
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.55% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Dover, DE
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $26,194 | $2,183 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 | $26,194 | $2,183 |
| Median (50th) | $36,030 | $17.32 | $29,807 | $2,484 |
| 75th percentile | $45,890 | $22.06 | $37,183 | $3,099 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,740 | $28.24 | $46,794 | $3,900 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Delaware resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,030 buys in Dover, DE
Prices in Dover, DE are 2.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 4% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $29,807 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,569 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 Dover, DE as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.98).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Dover, DE ranks #138 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 |
| 138 | Dover, DE | $36,030 | $29,807 | $30,569 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 375 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Dover, DE?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Dover, DE metro area is $36,030 a year, or about $17.32 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,200 and $45,890.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Dover, DE?
On the median $36,030 salary, a single filer living in Delaware takes home about $29,807 a year ($2,484 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,323 in Delaware taxes in 2026.
Is Dover, DE a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 2.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,569 would in a typical U.S. city. Dover, DE ranks #138 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Dover, DE?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dover, DE is $1,165 a month ($1,470 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Dover, DE
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,720
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $41,370
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,570
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,200