Waiter and Waitress Salary in Seattle, WA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $57,280 a year — 63% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,204 take-home, or $4,017 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,694
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,551
- Medicare (1.45%)$831
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$48,204
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,730 | $17.66 | $31,693 | $2,641 |
| 25th percentile | $46,460 | $22.34 | $39,511 | $3,293 |
| Median (50th) | $57,280 | $27.54 | $48,204 | $4,017 |
| 75th percentile | $77,690 | $37.35 | $63,485 | $5,290 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,940 | $46.13 | $76,324 | $6,360 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $57,280 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $48,204 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,375 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 Seattle, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.87).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #8 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 |
*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 Washington
- Bellingham, WA — $56,700
- Bremerton, WA — $55,270
- Mount Vernon, WA — $53,060
- Yakima, WA — $49,060
- Kennewick, WA — $51,460
- Olympia, WA — $53,000
- Spokane, WA — $48,560
- Wenatchee, WA — $49,820
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Seattle, WA?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $57,280 a year, or about $27.54 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,460 and $77,690.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $57,280 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $48,204 a year ($4,017 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 63% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,375 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #8 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 50% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- Chef and Head Cook — $80,330
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $61,610
- Bartender — $58,180
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $51,530
- Cooks, Short Order — $50,870
- Cooks, Restaurant — $47,730
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $45,120
- Cooks, Fast Food — $44,030
- Food Preparation Worker — $43,830
- Dishwasher — $42,750
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $40,640
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $39,150