Waiter and Waitress Salary in Portland, OR
Waiters and Waitresses in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median $54,780 a year — 55% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $42,232 take-home, or $3,519 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Portland, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,394
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,396
- Medicare (1.45%)$794
- Oregon income tax$3,964
- Take-home pay$42,232
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.75% state
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro spans Oregon, Washington. 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 Portland, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,980 | $16.34 | $27,339 | $2,278 |
| 25th percentile | $37,150 | $17.86 | $29,609 | $2,467 |
| Median (50th) | $54,780 | $26.34 | $42,232 | $3,519 |
| 75th percentile | $72,170 | $34.70 | $54,116 | $4,510 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,630 | $39.25 | $59,944 | $4,995 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $54,780 buys in Portland, OR
Prices in Portland, OR are 5.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.25× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $42,232 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,060 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 Portland, OR than nationally (location quotient 0.79), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, OR ranks #6 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 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Portland, OR?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $54,780 a year, or about $26.34 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,150 and $72,170.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Portland, OR?
On the median $54,780 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $42,232 a year ($3,519 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,964 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 55% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,060 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, OR ranks #6 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Portland, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Portland, OR is $1,677 a month ($1,922 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 Portland, OR
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $48,900
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $45,800
- Bartender — $45,590
- Cooks, Restaurant — $45,200
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $43,410
- Food Preparation Worker — $38,730
- Cooks, Fast Food — $38,580
- Dishwasher — $37,250
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $37,230
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $35,620