Waiter and Waitress Salary in Lincoln, NE
Waiters and Waitresses in the Lincoln, NE metro area earn a median $36,080 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,408 take-home, or $2,534 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Lincoln, NE. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,150
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,237
- Medicare (1.45%)$523
- Nebraska income tax$762
- Take-home pay$30,408
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.55% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Lincoln, NE
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,080 | $13.50 | $24,278 | $2,023 |
| 25th percentile | $29,390 | $14.13 | $25,293 | $2,108 |
| Median (50th) | $36,080 | $17.35 | $30,408 | $2,534 |
| 75th percentile | $47,730 | $22.95 | $39,239 | $3,270 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,980 | $29.32 | $49,282 | $4,107 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Nebraska resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,080 buys in Lincoln, NE
Prices in Lincoln, NE are 8.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 16% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $30,408 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,204 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 Lincoln, NE as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Lincoln, NE ranks #78 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 |
| 78 | Lincoln, NE | $36,080 | $30,408 | $33,204 |
*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 Nebraska
- Omaha, NE — $34,290
- Grand Island, NE — $29,840
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Lincoln, NE?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Lincoln, NE metro area is $36,080 a year, or about $17.35 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,390 and $47,730.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Lincoln, NE?
On the median $36,080 salary, a single filer living in Nebraska takes home about $30,408 a year ($2,534 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $762 in Nebraska taxes in 2026.
Is Lincoln, NE a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 8.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,204 would in a typical U.S. city. Lincoln, NE ranks #78 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Lincoln, NE?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lincoln, NE is $917 a month ($1,132 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Lincoln, NE
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,230
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,290
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,830
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,210
- Bartender — $30,660
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $29,480
- Cooks, Fast Food — $29,430
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,510
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,150