Waiter and Waitress Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Waiters and Waitresses in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $47,530 a year — 35% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,391 take-home, or $3,283 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,524
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,947
- Medicare (1.45%)$689
- Arizona income tax$980
- Take-home pay$39,391
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,850 | $14.83 | $26,405 | $2,200 |
| 25th percentile | $34,840 | $16.75 | $29,512 | $2,459 |
| Median (50th) | $47,530 | $22.85 | $39,391 | $3,283 |
| 75th percentile | $69,610 | $33.47 | $56,269 | $4,689 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,780 | $38.36 | $63,169 | $5,264 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,530 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $39,391 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,127 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 Phoenix, AZ as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Phoenix, AZ ranks #29 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 |
| 29 | Phoenix, AZ | $47,530 | $39,391 | $38,127 |
*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 Arizona
- Yuma, AZ — $36,120
- Lake Havasu City, AZ — $36,370
- Sierra Vista, AZ — $34,020
- Tucson, AZ — $36,490
- Prescott Valley, AZ — $36,670
- Flagstaff, AZ — $37,080
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Phoenix, AZ?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $47,530 a year, or about $22.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,840 and $69,610.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $47,530 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $39,391 a year ($3,283 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $980 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 35% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,127 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #29 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Phoenix, AZ
- Chef and Head Cook — $61,400
- Bartender — $46,940
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,100
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $40,120
- Cooks, Restaurant — $39,170
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $38,200
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,580
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $36,960
- Dishwasher — $35,780
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,690
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $35,080
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,540