Waiter and Waitress Salary in New Haven, CT
Waiters and Waitresses in the New Haven, CT metro area earn a median $37,900 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,852 take-home, or $2,654 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in New Haven, CT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,368
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,350
- Medicare (1.45%)$550
- Connecticut income tax$781
- Take-home pay$31,852
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in New Haven, CT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,010 | $16.35 | $28,902 | $2,408 |
| 25th percentile | $35,540 | $17.09 | $30,062 | $2,505 |
| Median (50th) | $37,900 | $18.22 | $31,852 | $2,654 |
| 75th percentile | $48,410 | $23.27 | $39,824 | $3,319 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,420 | $30.49 | $51,209 | $4,267 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Connecticut resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,900 buys in New Haven, CT
Prices in New Haven, CT are 4.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.24× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $31,852 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,463 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 less concentrated in New Haven, CT than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
New Haven, CT ranks #140 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 |
| 140 | New Haven, CT | $37,900 | $31,852 | $30,463 |
*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 Connecticut
- Norwich, CT — $37,880
- Waterbury, CT — $36,890
- Hartford, CT — $37,200
- Bridgeport, CT — $38,820
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in New Haven, CT?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the New Haven, CT metro area is $37,900 a year, or about $18.22 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,540 and $48,410.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in New Haven, CT?
On the median $37,900 salary, a single filer living in Connecticut takes home about $31,852 a year ($2,654 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $781 in Connecticut taxes in 2026.
Is New Haven, CT a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 4.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,463 would in a typical U.S. city. New Haven, CT ranks #140 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in New Haven, CT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New Haven, CT is $1,591 a month ($1,969 for two bedrooms) — 60% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New Haven, CT
- Chef and Head Cook — $66,700
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $53,200
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $46,000
- Cooks, Restaurant — $39,100
- Bartender — $38,260
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,970
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,940
- Dishwasher — $35,470
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $35,290
- Cooks, Fast Food — $34,850
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $34,210
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,020