Waiter and Waitress Salary in Helena, MT
Waiters and Waitresses in the Helena, MT metro area earn a median $23,020 a year — 35% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $20,242 take-home, or $1,687 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Helena, MT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$692
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,427
- Medicare (1.45%)$334
- Montana income tax$325
- Take-home pay$20,242
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 4.70% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Helena, MT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,940 | $10.55 | $19,403 | $1,617 |
| 25th percentile | $22,140 | $10.64 | $19,558 | $1,630 |
| Median (50th) | $23,020 | $11.07 | $20,242 | $1,687 |
| 75th percentile | $28,120 | $13.52 | $24,202 | $2,017 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,420 | $21.84 | $37,297 | $3,108 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Montana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $23,020 buys in Helena, MT
Prices in Helena, MT are 4.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 10% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $20,242 take-home pay has the buying power of $21,157 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 less concentrated in Helena, MT than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Helena, MT ranks #334 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 |
| 334 | Helena, MT | $23,020 | $20,242 | $21,157 |
*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 Montana
- Bozeman, MT — $26,380
- Billings, MT — $22,940
- Missoula, MT — $23,210
- Great Falls, MT — $22,270
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Helena, MT?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Helena, MT metro area is $23,020 a year, or about $11.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $22,140 and $28,120.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Helena, MT?
On the median $23,020 salary, a single filer living in Montana takes home about $20,242 a year ($1,687 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $325 in Montana taxes in 2026.
Is Helena, MT a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 35% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $21,157 would in a typical U.S. city. Helena, MT ranks #334 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Helena, MT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Helena, MT is $1,307 a month ($1,622 for two bedrooms) — 77% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Helena, MT
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,030
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,330