Waiter and Waitress Salary in Roanoke, VA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Roanoke, VA metro area earn a median $37,380 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,880 take-home, or $2,573 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Roanoke, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,306
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,318
- Medicare (1.45%)$542
- Virginia income tax$1,335
- Take-home pay$30,880
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Roanoke, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,750 | $12.86 | $22,915 | $1,910 |
| 25th percentile | $29,400 | $14.13 | $24,927 | $2,077 |
| Median (50th) | $37,380 | $17.97 | $30,880 | $2,573 |
| 75th percentile | $47,460 | $22.82 | $38,399 | $3,200 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,650 | $28.68 | $47,493 | $3,958 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,380 buys in Roanoke, VA
Prices in Roanoke, VA are 6.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $30,880 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,985 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 Roanoke, VA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Roanoke, VA ranks #82 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 |
| 82 | Roanoke, VA | $37,380 | $30,880 | $32,985 |
*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 Virginia
- Harrisonburg, VA — $44,760
- Charlottesville, VA — $44,030
- Staunton, VA — $37,910
- Lynchburg, VA — $36,780
- Blacksburg, VA — $37,670
- Virginia Beach, VA — $39,020
- Richmond, VA — $38,470
- Winchester, VA — $37,680
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Roanoke, VA?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Roanoke, VA metro area is $37,380 a year, or about $17.97 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,400 and $47,460.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Roanoke, VA?
On the median $37,380 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $30,880 a year ($2,573 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,335 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Roanoke, VA a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 6.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,985 would in a typical U.S. city. Roanoke, VA ranks #82 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Roanoke, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Roanoke, VA is $1,020 a month ($1,200 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Roanoke, VA
- Bartender — $46,530
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,440
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,670
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,920
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,790
- Dishwasher — $28,790
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,720