Waiter and Waitress Salary in Providence, RI
Waiters and Waitresses in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area earn a median $35,750 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,181 take-home, or $2,515 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Providence, RI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,110
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,217
- Medicare (1.45%)$518
- Rhode Island income tax$724
- Take-home pay$30,181
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.75% state
The Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro spans Rhode Island, Massachusetts. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Providence, RI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $26,696 | $2,225 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 | $26,696 | $2,225 |
| Median (50th) | $35,750 | $17.19 | $30,181 | $2,515 |
| 75th percentile | $50,340 | $24.20 | $41,357 | $3,446 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,680 | $30.13 | $50,810 | $4,234 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Rhode Island resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,750 buys in Providence, RI
Prices in Providence, RI are 1.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.04× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $30,181 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,656 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Providence, RI has 1.3× 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
Providence, RI ranks #154 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 |
| 154 | Providence, RI | $35,750 | $30,181 | $29,656 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 375 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Providence, RI?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area is $35,750 a year, or about $17.19 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,200 and $50,340.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Providence, RI?
On the median $35,750 salary, a single filer living in Rhode Island takes home about $30,181 a year ($2,515 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $724 in Rhode Island taxes in 2026.
Is Providence, RI a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 1.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,656 would in a typical U.S. city. Providence, RI ranks #154 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Providence, RI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Providence, RI is $1,423 a month ($1,774 for two bedrooms) — 57% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Providence, RI
- Chef and Head Cook — $79,340
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,640
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $46,350
- Cooks, Short Order — $44,050
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,460
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,250
- Bartender — $35,680
- Cooks, Fast Food — $35,260
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,870
- Dishwasher — $34,640
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $33,700
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $31,200