Waiter and Waitress Salary in New York, NY
Waiters and Waitresses in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $47,610 a year — 35% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,461 take-home, or $3,205 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,533
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,952
- Medicare (1.45%)$690
- New York income tax$1,974
- Take-home pay$38,461
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $1,416 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $37,044 ($3,087 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. 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 New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,810 | $16.25 | $28,118 | $2,343 |
| 25th percentile | $35,310 | $16.98 | $29,242 | $2,437 |
| Median (50th) | $47,610 | $22.89 | $38,461 | $3,205 |
| 75th percentile | $64,480 | $31.00 | $51,105 | $4,259 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,610 | $45.97 | $71,491 | $5,958 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,610 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $38,461 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,168 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 New York, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.00).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #20 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 |
| 20 | New York, NY | $47,610 | $38,461 | $34,168 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 148 metros →
About the job: waiters and waitresses
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in New York
- Syracuse, NY — $47,640
- Albany, NY — $48,980
- Buffalo, NY — $46,580
- Rochester, NY — $45,310
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $46,950
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in New York, NY?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $47,610 a year, or about $22.89 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,310 and $64,480.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $47,610 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $38,461 a year ($3,205 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,974 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 35% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,168 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #20 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 74% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New York, NY
- Chef and Head Cook — $71,780
- Bartender — $61,220
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $48,690
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $46,870
- Cooks, Restaurant — $43,740
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $39,120
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $36,980
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $36,500
- Cooks, Fast Food — $35,780
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,670
- Dishwasher — $35,670
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $35,420