Waiter and Waitress Salary in Salt Lake City, UT
Waiters and Waitresses in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area earn a median $32,320 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $27,661 take-home, or $2,305 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Salt Lake City, UT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,698
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,004
- Medicare (1.45%)$469
- Utah income tax$488
- Take-home pay$27,661
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Salt Lake City, UT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,340 | $10.26 | $19,183 | $1,599 |
| 25th percentile | $22,310 | $10.73 | $19,944 | $1,662 |
| Median (50th) | $32,320 | $15.54 | $27,661 | $2,305 |
| 75th percentile | $48,570 | $23.35 | $39,986 | $3,332 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,140 | $29.39 | $49,521 | $4,127 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Utah resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $32,320 buys in Salt Lake City, UT
Prices in Salt Lake City, UT are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.23× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $27,661 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,423 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 Salt Lake City, UT than nationally (location quotient 0.64), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Salt Lake City, UT ranks #91 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 |
| 91 | Salt Lake City, UT | $32,320 | $27,661 | $27,423 |
*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.
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in Utah
- Ogden, UT — $34,570
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Salt Lake City, UT?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area is $32,320 a year, or about $15.54 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $22,310 and $48,570.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Salt Lake City, UT?
On the median $32,320 salary, a single filer living in Utah takes home about $27,661 a year ($2,305 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $488 in Utah taxes in 2026.
Is Salt Lake City, UT a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,423 would in a typical U.S. city. Salt Lake City, UT ranks #91 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Salt Lake City, UT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Salt Lake City, UT is $1,426 a month ($1,717 for two bedrooms) — 62% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Salt Lake City, UT
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,860
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,700
- Food Preparation Worker — $33,370
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,070