Waiter and Waitress Salary in Orlando, FL
Waiters and Waitresses in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL metro area earn a median $35,410 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,632 take-home, or $2,553 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Orlando, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,069
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,195
- Medicare (1.45%)$513
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$30,632
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Orlando, FL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,040 | $13.00 | $23,877 | $1,990 |
| 25th percentile | $28,410 | $13.66 | $25,006 | $2,084 |
| Median (50th) | $35,410 | $17.02 | $30,632 | $2,553 |
| 75th percentile | $47,760 | $22.96 | $40,555 | $3,380 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,680 | $30.62 | $53,347 | $4,446 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,410 buys in Orlando, FL
Prices in Orlando, FL are 1.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.23× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $30,632 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,204 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Orlando, FL has 1.8× the national concentration of waiter and waitress jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Orlando, FL ranks #67 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 |
| 67 | Orlando, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $30,204 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 148 metros →
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in Florida
- Crestview, FL — $37,370
- Tallahassee, FL — $34,850
- Jacksonville, FL — $36,630
- Tampa, FL — $37,070
- Gainesville, FL — $35,400
- Palm Bay, FL — $36,670
- Lakeland, FL — $35,270
- Naples, FL — $37,550
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Orlando, FL?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL metro area is $35,410 a year, or about $17.02 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,410 and $47,760.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Orlando, FL?
On the median $35,410 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $30,632 a year ($2,553 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Orlando, FL a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 1.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,204 would in a typical U.S. city. Orlando, FL ranks #67 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Orlando, FL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Orlando, FL is $1,731 a month ($1,972 for two bedrooms) — 68% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Orlando, FL
- Chef and Head Cook — $61,390
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $43,070
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,970
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,970
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,600
- Bartender — $33,650
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $33,500
- Dishwasher — $32,220
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $32,170
- Cooks, Fast Food — $29,940
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,640
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,620