Waiter and Waitress Salary in Mankato, MN
Waiters and Waitresses in the Mankato, MN metro area earn a median $23,330 a year — 34% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $20,393 take-home, or $1,699 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Mankato, MN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$723
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,446
- Medicare (1.45%)$338
- Minnesota income tax$430
- Take-home pay$20,393
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 5.35% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Mankato, MN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,150 | $11.13 | $20,254 | $1,688 |
| 25th percentile | $23,150 | $11.13 | $20,254 | $1,688 |
| Median (50th) | $23,330 | $11.22 | $20,393 | $1,699 |
| 75th percentile | $28,400 | $13.65 | $24,297 | $2,025 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,790 | $18.65 | $32,091 | $2,674 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Minnesota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $23,330 buys in Mankato, MN
Prices in Mankato, MN are 9.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 20% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $20,393 take-home pay has the buying power of $22,421 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 Mankato, MN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Mankato, MN ranks #306 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 |
| 306 | Mankato, MN | $23,330 | $20,393 | $22,421 |
*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 Minnesota
- St. Cloud, MN — $23,520
- Rochester, MN — $24,060
- Duluth, MN — $23,150
- Minneapolis, MN — $25,920
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Mankato, MN?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Mankato, MN metro area is $23,330 a year, or about $11.22 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $23,150 and $28,400.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Mankato, MN?
On the median $23,330 salary, a single filer living in Minnesota takes home about $20,393 a year ($1,699 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $430 in Minnesota taxes in 2026.
Is Mankato, MN a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 34% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 9.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $22,421 would in a typical U.S. city. Mankato, MN ranks #306 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Mankato, MN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Mankato, MN is $977 a month ($1,171 for two bedrooms) — 57% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Mankato, MN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $43,300
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,190
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $30,000
- Bartender — $24,710