Waiter and Waitress Salary in Olympia, WA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area earn a median $53,000 a year — 50% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $44,766 take-home, or $3,730 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Olympia, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,180
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,286
- Medicare (1.45%)$769
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$44,766
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Olympia, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,330 | $17.47 | $31,371 | $2,614 |
| 25th percentile | $45,630 | $21.94 | $38,844 | $3,237 |
| Median (50th) | $53,000 | $25.48 | $44,766 | $3,730 |
| 75th percentile | $69,690 | $33.50 | $57,857 | $4,821 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,670 | $44.55 | $74,023 | $6,169 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $53,000 buys in Olympia, WA
Prices in Olympia, WA are 3.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.17× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $44,766 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,181 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 Olympia, WA than nationally (location quotient 0.74), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Olympia, WA ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Olympia, WA | $53,000 | $44,766 | $43,181 |
*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 Washington
- Bellingham, WA — $56,700
- Bremerton, WA — $55,270
- Mount Vernon, WA — $53,060
- Yakima, WA — $49,060
- Kennewick, WA — $51,460
- Seattle, WA — $57,280
- Spokane, WA — $48,560
- Wenatchee, WA — $49,820
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Olympia, WA?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area is $53,000 a year, or about $25.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,630 and $69,690.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Olympia, WA?
On the median $53,000 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $44,766 a year ($3,730 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Olympia, WA a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 50% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 3.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,181 would in a typical U.S. city. Olympia, WA ranks #9 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Olympia, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Olympia, WA is $1,682 a month ($1,960 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Olympia, WA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $54,200
- Bartender — $50,180
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,960
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,950
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,110