Waiter and Waitress Salary in Salem, OR
Waiters and Waitresses in the Salem, OR metro area earn a median $48,720 a year — 38% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,893 take-home, or $3,158 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Salem, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,666
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,021
- Medicare (1.45%)$706
- Oregon income tax$3,433
- Take-home pay$37,893
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.75% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Salem, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,300 | $15.05 | $25,420 | $2,118 |
| 25th percentile | $35,330 | $16.99 | $28,306 | $2,359 |
| Median (50th) | $48,720 | $23.42 | $37,893 | $3,158 |
| 75th percentile | $61,770 | $29.70 | $47,237 | $3,936 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,850 | $35.99 | $55,767 | $4,647 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $48,720 buys in Salem, OR
Prices in Salem, OR are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.10× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $37,893 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,559 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 Salem, OR than nationally (location quotient 0.67), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Salem, OR ranks #40 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 |
| 40 | Salem, OR | $48,720 | $37,893 | $36,559 |
*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 Oregon
- Portland, OR — $54,780
- Medford, OR — $50,440
- Bend, OR — $50,480
- Corvallis, OR — $46,600
- Eugene, OR — $42,930
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Salem, OR?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Salem, OR metro area is $48,720 a year, or about $23.42 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,330 and $61,770.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Salem, OR?
On the median $48,720 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $37,893 a year ($3,158 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,433 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Salem, OR a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 38% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,559 would in a typical U.S. city. Salem, OR ranks #40 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Salem, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Salem, OR is $1,201 a month ($1,560 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Salem, OR
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,660
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $44,690
- Cooks, Restaurant — $39,170
- Bartender — $38,410
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,300
- Dishwasher — $35,070
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,720
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,520