Waiter and Waitress Salary in Oklahoma City, OK
Waiters and Waitresses in the Oklahoma City, OK metro area earn a median $18,200 a year — 48% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $16,324 take-home, or $1,360 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Oklahoma City, OK. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$210
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,128
- Medicare (1.45%)$264
- Oklahoma income tax$274
- Take-home pay$16,324
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 4.50% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Oklahoma City, OK
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,230 | $7.32 | $13,925 | $1,160 |
| 25th percentile | $16,880 | $8.12 | $15,297 | $1,275 |
| Median (50th) | $18,200 | $8.75 | $16,324 | $1,360 |
| 75th percentile | $30,190 | $14.51 | $25,625 | $2,135 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,150 | $28.44 | $47,591 | $3,966 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oklahoma resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $18,200 buys in Oklahoma City, OK
Prices in Oklahoma City, OK are 9.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 26% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $16,324 take-home pay has the buying power of $18,056 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 Oklahoma City, OK as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.17).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Oklahoma City, OK ranks #138 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 |
| 138 | Oklahoma City, OK | $18,200 | $16,324 | $18,056 |
*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 Oklahoma
- Tulsa, OK — $18,350
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Oklahoma City, OK?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Oklahoma City, OK metro area is $18,200 a year, or about $8.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $16,880 and $30,190.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Oklahoma City, OK?
On the median $18,200 salary, a single filer living in Oklahoma takes home about $16,324 a year ($1,360 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $274 in Oklahoma taxes in 2026.
Is Oklahoma City, OK a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 48% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 9.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $18,056 would in a typical U.S. city. Oklahoma City, OK ranks #138 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Oklahoma City, OK?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Oklahoma City, OK is $1,002 a month ($1,227 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 Oklahoma City, OK
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,130
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $35,580
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $30,540
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,160
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,990
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $26,070
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $24,960
- Bartender — $24,790