Waiter and Waitress Salary in Minneapolis, MN
Waiters and Waitresses in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn a median $25,920 a year — 26% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $22,387 take-home, or $1,866 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Minneapolis, MN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$982
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,607
- Medicare (1.45%)$376
- Minnesota income tax$568
- Take-home pay$22,387
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 5.35% state
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro spans Minnesota, Wisconsin. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Minneapolis, MN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,260 | $11.18 | $20,339 | $1,695 |
| 25th percentile | $23,650 | $11.37 | $20,639 | $1,720 |
| Median (50th) | $25,920 | $12.46 | $22,387 | $1,866 |
| 75th percentile | $33,120 | $15.92 | $27,839 | $2,320 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,280 | $20.81 | $35,459 | $2,955 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Minnesota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $25,920 buys in Minneapolis, MN
Prices in Minneapolis, MN are 4.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $22,387 take-home pay has the buying power of $21,357 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 Minneapolis, MN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Minneapolis, MN ranks #130 of 148 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 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $60,250 | $47,542 | $42,846 |
| 4 | Spokane, WA | $48,560 | $41,198 | $41,056 |
| 5 | Syracuse, NY | $47,640 | $38,483 | $40,195 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $54,780 | $42,232 | $40,060 |
| 7 | Albany, NY | $48,980 | $39,488 | $39,660 |
| 8 | Buffalo, NY | $46,580 | $37,689 | $39,323 |
| 130 | Minneapolis, MN | $25,920 | $22,387 | $21,357 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 148 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Minneapolis, MN?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area is $25,920 a year, or about $12.46 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $23,650 and $33,120.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Minneapolis, MN?
On the median $25,920 salary, a single filer living in Minnesota takes home about $22,387 a year ($1,866 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $568 in Minnesota taxes in 2026.
Is Minneapolis, MN a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 26% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 4.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $21,357 would in a typical U.S. city. Minneapolis, MN ranks #130 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Minneapolis, MN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Minneapolis, MN is $1,396 a month ($1,700 for two bedrooms) — 75% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Minneapolis, MN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,110
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $44,830
- Cooks, Restaurant — $39,640
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $36,420
- Cooks, Fast Food — $36,380
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,100
- Dishwasher — $34,940
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $33,040
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $30,600
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,380
- Bartender — $27,600