Waiter and Waitress Salary in Fort Wayne, IN
Waiters and Waitresses in the Fort Wayne, IN metro area earn a median $28,650 a year — 19% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,385 take-home, or $2,032 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Fort Wayne, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,258
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,776
- Medicare (1.45%)$415
- Indiana income tax$816
- Take-home pay$24,385
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Fort Wayne, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,430 | $8.38 | $15,479 | $1,290 |
| 25th percentile | $20,870 | $10.03 | $18,210 | $1,518 |
| Median (50th) | $28,650 | $13.77 | $24,385 | $2,032 |
| 75th percentile | $36,560 | $17.58 | $30,507 | $2,542 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,840 | $23.00 | $39,238 | $3,270 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,650 buys in Fort Wayne, IN
Prices in Fort Wayne, IN are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $24,385 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,341 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 Fort Wayne, IN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Fort Wayne, IN ranks #257 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 |
| 257 | Fort Wayne, IN | $28,650 | $24,385 | $26,341 |
*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 Indiana
- Kokomo, IN — $28,420
- Evansville, IN — $28,550
- Elkhart, IN — $28,060
- South Bend, IN — $28,740
- Michigan City, IN — $28,260
- Lafayette, IN — $28,420
- Terre Haute, IN — $26,520
- Indianapolis, IN — $29,050
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Fort Wayne, IN?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Fort Wayne, IN metro area is $28,650 a year, or about $13.77 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $20,870 and $36,560.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Fort Wayne, IN?
On the median $28,650 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $24,385 a year ($2,032 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $816 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Fort Wayne, IN a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 19% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,341 would in a typical U.S. city. Fort Wayne, IN ranks #257 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Fort Wayne, IN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Fort Wayne, IN is $906 a month ($1,105 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Fort Wayne, IN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,500
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,300
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,190
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,490
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,850
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,640
- Dishwasher — $28,710
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,360
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $25,920
- Bartender — $23,010