Waiter and Waitress Salary in Lansing, MI
Waiters and Waitresses in the Lansing-East Lansing, MI metro area earn a median $38,210 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,509 take-home, or $2,626 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Lansing, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,405
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,369
- Medicare (1.45%)$554
- Michigan income tax$1,373
- Take-home pay$31,509
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Lansing, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,870 | $12.92 | $22,846 | $1,904 |
| 25th percentile | $30,280 | $14.56 | $25,474 | $2,123 |
| Median (50th) | $38,210 | $18.37 | $31,509 | $2,626 |
| 75th percentile | $59,600 | $28.65 | $47,786 | $3,982 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,040 | $30.79 | $51,165 | $4,264 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,210 buys in Lansing, MI
Prices in Lansing, MI are 5.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 17% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $31,509 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,170 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 Lansing, MI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.85).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Lansing, MI ranks #80 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 |
| 80 | Lansing, MI | $38,210 | $31,509 | $33,170 |
*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 Michigan
- Muskegon, MI — $44,920
- Flint, MI — $44,030
- Grand Rapids, MI — $42,930
- Traverse City, MI — $41,380
- Bay City, MI — $40,500
- Jackson, MI — $39,920
- Saginaw, MI — $39,430
- Monroe, MI — $38,780
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Lansing, MI?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Lansing-East Lansing, MI metro area is $38,210 a year, or about $18.37 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,280 and $59,600.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Lansing, MI?
On the median $38,210 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $31,509 a year ($2,626 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,373 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Lansing, MI a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 5.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,170 would in a typical U.S. city. Lansing, MI ranks #80 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Lansing, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lansing, MI is $1,012 a month ($1,268 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 Lansing, MI
- Bartender — $40,230
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,100
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,050
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,970
- Dishwasher — $33,130
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $30,470
- Food Preparation Worker — $29,340
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,640
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,400
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,340