Waiter and Waitress Salary in Flagstaff, AZ
Waiters and Waitresses in the Flagstaff, AZ metro area earn a median $37,080 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,256 take-home, or $2,605 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Flagstaff, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,270
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,299
- Medicare (1.45%)$538
- Arizona income tax$718
- Take-home pay$31,256
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Flagstaff, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,730 | $14.77 | $26,312 | $2,193 |
| 25th percentile | $34,190 | $16.44 | $29,006 | $2,417 |
| Median (50th) | $37,080 | $17.83 | $31,256 | $2,605 |
| 75th percentile | $61,500 | $29.57 | $50,267 | $4,189 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,760 | $37.38 | $61,799 | $5,150 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,080 buys in Flagstaff, AZ
Prices in Flagstaff, AZ are 0.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.09× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $31,256 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,154 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Flagstaff, AZ has 2.3× the national concentration of waiter and waitress jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Flagstaff, AZ ranks #126 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 |
| 126 | Flagstaff, AZ | $37,080 | $31,256 | $31,154 |
*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 Arizona
- Phoenix, AZ — $47,530
- Yuma, AZ — $36,120
- Lake Havasu City, AZ — $36,370
- Sierra Vista, AZ — $34,020
- Tucson, AZ — $36,490
- Prescott Valley, AZ — $36,670
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Flagstaff, AZ?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Flagstaff, AZ metro area is $37,080 a year, or about $17.83 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,190 and $61,500.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Flagstaff, AZ?
On the median $37,080 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $31,256 a year ($2,605 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $718 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Flagstaff, AZ a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,154 would in a typical U.S. city. Flagstaff, AZ ranks #126 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Flagstaff, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Flagstaff, AZ is $1,727 a month ($1,921 for two bedrooms) — 66% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Flagstaff, AZ
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $43,300
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,760
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,710
- Bartender — $36,270
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $35,340
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $33,690