Waiter and Waitress Salary in Santa Fe, NM
Waiters and Waitresses in the Santa Fe, NM metro area earn a median $46,640 a year — 32% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,617 take-home, or $3,218 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Santa Fe, NM. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,417
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,892
- Medicare (1.45%)$676
- New Mexico income tax$1,038
- Take-home pay$38,617
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.30% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Santa Fe, NM
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,900 | $13.89 | $25,085 | $2,090 |
| 25th percentile | $31,510 | $15.15 | $27,099 | $2,258 |
| Median (50th) | $46,640 | $22.42 | $38,617 | $3,218 |
| 75th percentile | $63,400 | $30.48 | $51,308 | $4,276 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,210 | $37.60 | $61,341 | $5,112 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New Mexico resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,640 buys in Santa Fe, NM
Prices in Santa Fe, NM are 1.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.08× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $38,617 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,099 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Santa Fe, NM has 1.9× 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
Santa Fe, NM ranks #22 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 |
| 22 | Santa Fe, NM | $46,640 | $38,617 | $39,099 |
*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 New Mexico
- Las Cruces, NM — $38,670
- Farmington, NM — $37,210
- Albuquerque, NM — $38,050
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Santa Fe, NM?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Santa Fe, NM metro area is $46,640 a year, or about $22.42 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,510 and $63,400.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Santa Fe, NM?
On the median $46,640 salary, a single filer living in New Mexico takes home about $38,617 a year ($3,218 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,038 in New Mexico taxes in 2026.
Is Santa Fe, NM a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 32% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 1.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,099 would in a typical U.S. city. Santa Fe, NM ranks #22 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Santa Fe, NM?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Santa Fe, NM is $1,390 a month ($1,685 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Santa Fe, NM
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $47,290
- Bartender — $44,250
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,250
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,120
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $32,260
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $30,810