Waiter and Waitress Salary in Lawrence, KS
Waiters and Waitresses in the Lawrence, KS metro area earn a median $37,230 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,817 take-home, or $2,568 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Lawrence, KS. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,288
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,308
- Medicare (1.45%)$540
- Kansas income tax$1,278
- Take-home pay$30,817
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.58% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Lawrence, KS
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $19,980 | $9.61 | $17,688 | $1,474 |
| 25th percentile | $27,950 | $13.44 | $23,837 | $1,986 |
| Median (50th) | $37,230 | $17.90 | $30,817 | $2,568 |
| 75th percentile | $59,010 | $28.37 | $47,101 | $3,925 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,290 | $31.39 | $51,797 | $4,316 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kansas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,230 buys in Lawrence, KS
Prices in Lawrence, KS are 9.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $30,817 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,148 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Lawrence, KS has 1.6× 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
Lawrence, KS ranks #62 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 |
| 62 | Lawrence, KS | $37,230 | $30,817 | $34,148 |
*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 Kansas
- Wichita, KS — $37,300
- Topeka, KS — $35,090
- Manhattan, KS — $33,140
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Lawrence, KS?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Lawrence, KS metro area is $37,230 a year, or about $17.90 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,950 and $59,010.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Lawrence, KS?
On the median $37,230 salary, a single filer living in Kansas takes home about $30,817 a year ($2,568 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,278 in Kansas taxes in 2026.
Is Lawrence, KS a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 9.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,148 would in a typical U.S. city. Lawrence, KS ranks #62 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Lawrence, KS?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lawrence, KS is $1,006 a month ($1,182 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 Lawrence, KS
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,440
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,140
- Bartender — $29,980
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,320