Waiter and Waitress Salary in Rochester, MN
Waiters and Waitresses in the Rochester, MN metro area earn a median $24,060 a year — 32% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $20,955 take-home, or $1,746 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Rochester, MN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$796
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,492
- Medicare (1.45%)$349
- Minnesota income tax$469
- Take-home pay$20,955
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 5.35% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Rochester, MN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,150 | $11.13 | $20,254 | $1,688 |
| 25th percentile | $23,250 | $11.18 | $20,331 | $1,694 |
| Median (50th) | $24,060 | $11.57 | $20,955 | $1,746 |
| 75th percentile | $28,220 | $13.57 | $24,158 | $2,013 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,920 | $19.19 | $32,939 | $2,745 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Minnesota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $24,060 buys in Rochester, MN
Prices in Rochester, MN are 9.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $20,955 take-home pay has the buying power of $23,073 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 Rochester, MN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Rochester, MN ranks #297 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 |
| 297 | Rochester, MN | $24,060 | $20,955 | $23,073 |
*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 Minnesota
- St. Cloud, MN — $23,520
- Duluth, MN — $23,150
- Mankato, MN — $23,330
- Minneapolis, MN — $25,920
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Rochester, MN?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Rochester, MN metro area is $24,060 a year, or about $11.57 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $23,250 and $28,220.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Rochester, MN?
On the median $24,060 salary, a single filer living in Minnesota takes home about $20,955 a year ($1,746 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $469 in Minnesota taxes in 2026.
Is Rochester, MN a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 32% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 9.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $23,073 would in a typical U.S. city. Rochester, MN ranks #297 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Rochester, MN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Rochester, MN is $1,124 a month ($1,332 for two bedrooms) — 64% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Rochester, MN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,620
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,150
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,630
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,470
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,190
- Bartender — $27,000