Waiter and Waitress Salary in Manhattan, KS
Waiters and Waitresses in the Manhattan, KS metro area earn a median $33,140 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $27,748 take-home, or $2,312 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Manhattan, KS. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,797
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,055
- Medicare (1.45%)$481
- Kansas income tax$1,060
- Take-home pay$27,748
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.20% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Manhattan, KS
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,330 | $7.85 | $14,872 | $1,239 |
| 25th percentile | $26,750 | $12.86 | $22,911 | $1,909 |
| Median (50th) | $33,140 | $15.93 | $27,748 | $2,312 |
| 75th percentile | $46,780 | $22.49 | $37,957 | $3,163 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,820 | $29.24 | $48,455 | $4,038 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kansas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,140 buys in Manhattan, KS
Prices in Manhattan, 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 $27,748 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,776 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Manhattan, KS has 1.2× 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
Manhattan, KS ranks #136 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 |
| 136 | Manhattan, KS | $33,140 | $27,748 | $30,776 |
*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
- Lawrence, KS — $37,230
- Topeka, KS — $35,090
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Manhattan, KS?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Manhattan, KS metro area is $33,140 a year, or about $15.93 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $26,750 and $46,780.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Manhattan, KS?
On the median $33,140 salary, a single filer living in Kansas takes home about $27,748 a year ($2,312 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,060 in Kansas taxes in 2026.
Is Manhattan, KS a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 9.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,776 would in a typical U.S. city. Manhattan, KS ranks #136 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Manhattan, KS?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Manhattan, KS is $868 a month ($1,063 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Manhattan, KS
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,460
- Cooks, Restaurant — $32,280
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,130