Waiter and Waitress Salary in Grand Junction, CO
Waiters and Waitresses in the Grand Junction, CO metro area earn a median $43,730 a year — 24% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,101 take-home, or $3,008 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Grand Junction, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,068
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,711
- Medicare (1.45%)$634
- Colorado income tax$1,216
- Take-home pay$36,101
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Grand Junction, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,800 | $14.81 | $26,281 | $2,190 |
| 25th percentile | $30,800 | $14.81 | $26,281 | $2,190 |
| Median (50th) | $43,730 | $21.02 | $36,101 | $3,008 |
| 75th percentile | $63,720 | $30.63 | $51,284 | $4,274 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,270 | $36.67 | $59,838 | $4,987 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,730 buys in Grand Junction, CO
Prices in Grand Junction, CO are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 14% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $36,101 take-home pay has the buying power of $37,812 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 Grand Junction, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Grand Junction, CO ranks #32 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 |
| 32 | Grand Junction, CO | $43,730 | $36,101 | $37,812 |
*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 Colorado
- Pueblo, CO — $45,500
- Boulder, CO — $49,870
- Fort Collins, CO — $47,360
- Greeley, CO — $46,480
- Colorado Springs, CO — $46,230
- Denver, CO — $39,650
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Grand Junction, CO?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Grand Junction, CO metro area is $43,730 a year, or about $21.02 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,800 and $63,720.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Grand Junction, CO?
On the median $43,730 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $36,101 a year ($3,008 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,216 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Grand Junction, CO a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 24% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $37,812 would in a typical U.S. city. Grand Junction, CO ranks #32 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Grand Junction, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Grand Junction, CO is $986 a month ($1,249 for two bedrooms) — 33% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Grand Junction, CO
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,760
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,420
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,510