Waiter and Waitress Salary in Mobile, AL
Waiters and Waitresses in the Mobile, AL metro area earn a median $26,860 a year — 24% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $22,651 take-home, or $1,888 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Mobile, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,076
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,665
- Medicare (1.45%)$389
- Alabama income tax$1,078
- Take-home pay$22,651
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 5.00% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Mobile, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,420 | $7.89 | $14,576 | $1,215 |
| 25th percentile | $20,710 | $9.96 | $17,894 | $1,491 |
| Median (50th) | $26,860 | $12.91 | $22,651 | $1,888 |
| 75th percentile | $28,840 | $13.87 | $24,176 | $2,015 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,950 | $17.28 | $29,533 | $2,461 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $26,860 buys in Mobile, AL
Prices in Mobile, AL are 11.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 40% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $22,651 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,711 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 Mobile, AL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.00).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Mobile, AL ranks #268 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 |
| 268 | Mobile, AL | $26,860 | $22,651 | $25,711 |
*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 Alabama
- Decatur, AL — $27,010
- Florence, AL — $25,990
- Tuscaloosa, AL — $26,930
- Auburn, AL — $26,470
- Birmingham, AL — $27,670
- Huntsville, AL — $27,990
- Dothan, AL — $24,520
- Montgomery, AL — $26,360
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Mobile, AL?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Mobile, AL metro area is $26,860 a year, or about $12.91 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $20,710 and $28,840.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Mobile, AL?
On the median $26,860 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $22,651 a year ($1,888 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,078 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Mobile, AL a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 24% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 11.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,711 would in a typical U.S. city. Mobile, AL ranks #268 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Mobile, AL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Mobile, AL is $919 a month ($1,083 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Mobile, AL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,110
- Cooks, Restaurant — $33,030
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $28,580
- Food Preparation Worker — $28,390
- Bartender — $27,980
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,700
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $25,070
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $23,510