Waiter and Waitress Salary in Kahului, HI
Waiters and Waitresses in the Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro area earn a median $82,550 a year — 134% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,160 take-home, or $5,180 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Kahului, HI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,331
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,118
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,197
- Hawaii income tax$4,744
- Take-home pay$62,160
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 7.60% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Kahului, HI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,430 | $15.59 | $27,182 | $2,265 |
| 25th percentile | $37,070 | $17.82 | $30,595 | $2,550 |
| Median (50th) | $82,550 | $39.69 | $62,160 | $5,180 |
| 75th percentile | $120,680 | $58.02 | $86,087 | $7,174 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $135,660 | $65.22 | $95,194 | $7,933 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Hawaii resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $82,550 buys in Kahului, HI
Prices in Kahului, HI are 9.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.19× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $62,160 take-home pay has the buying power of $56,823 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Kahului, HI has 2.5× 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
Kahului, HI ranks #1 of 148 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 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $60,250 | $47,542 | $42,846 |
| 4 | Spokane, WA | $48,560 | $41,198 | $41,056 |
| 5 | Syracuse, NY | $47,640 | $38,483 | $40,195 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $54,780 | $42,232 | $40,060 |
| 7 | Albany, NY | $48,980 | $39,488 | $39,660 |
| 8 | Buffalo, NY | $46,580 | $37,689 | $39,323 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 148 metros →
About the job: waiters and waitresses
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in Hawaii
- Urban Honolulu, HI — $60,250
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Kahului, HI?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro area is $82,550 a year, or about $39.69 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,070 and $120,680.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Kahului, HI?
On the median $82,550 salary, a single filer living in Hawaii takes home about $62,160 a year ($5,180 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,744 in Hawaii taxes in 2026.
Is Kahului, HI a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 134% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 9.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $56,823 would in a typical U.S. city. Kahului, HI ranks #1 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Kahului, HI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Kahului, HI is $2,000 a month ($2,624 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Kahului, HI
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $37,840