Waiter and Waitress Salary in Muskegon, MI
Waiters and Waitresses in the Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI metro area earn a median $44,920 a year — 28% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,615 take-home, or $3,051 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Muskegon, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,210
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,785
- Medicare (1.45%)$651
- Michigan income tax$1,658
- Take-home pay$36,615
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Muskegon, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,960 | $12.48 | $22,136 | $1,845 |
| 25th percentile | $29,150 | $14.01 | $24,614 | $2,051 |
| Median (50th) | $44,920 | $21.60 | $36,615 | $3,051 |
| 75th percentile | $57,680 | $27.73 | $46,325 | $3,860 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,080 | $29.85 | $49,674 | $4,139 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $44,920 buys in Muskegon, MI
Prices in Muskegon, MI are 7.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 26% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $36,615 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,576 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 Muskegon, MI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.02).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Muskegon, MI ranks #20 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 |
| 20 | Muskegon, MI | $44,920 | $36,615 | $39,576 |
*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 Michigan
- Flint, MI — $44,030
- Grand Rapids, MI — $42,930
- Traverse City, MI — $41,380
- Bay City, MI — $40,500
- Jackson, MI — $39,920
- Saginaw, MI — $39,430
- Monroe, MI — $38,780
- Niles, MI — $38,130
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Muskegon, MI?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI metro area is $44,920 a year, or about $21.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,150 and $57,680.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Muskegon, MI?
On the median $44,920 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $36,615 a year ($3,051 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,658 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Muskegon, MI a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 28% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 7.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,576 would in a typical U.S. city. Muskegon, MI ranks #20 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Muskegon, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Muskegon, MI is $942 a month ($1,236 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Muskegon, MI
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,480
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,810
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,850
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,820