Waiter and Waitress Salary in Sioux Falls, SD
Waiters and Waitresses in the Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area earn a median $29,920 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,221 take-home, or $2,185 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Sioux Falls, SD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,410
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,855
- Medicare (1.45%)$434
- South Dakota income tax$0
- Take-home pay$26,221
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
The Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro spans South Dakota, Minnesota. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Sioux Falls, SD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,020 | $13.47 | $24,684 | $2,057 |
| 25th percentile | $28,990 | $13.94 | $25,473 | $2,123 |
| Median (50th) | $29,920 | $14.38 | $26,221 | $2,185 |
| 75th percentile | $34,560 | $16.62 | $29,949 | $2,496 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,060 | $18.78 | $33,565 | $2,797 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Dakota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,920 buys in Sioux Falls, SD
Prices in Sioux Falls, SD are 9.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 22% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $26,221 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,931 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 Sioux Falls, SD as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.98).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Sioux Falls, SD ranks #171 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 |
| 171 | Sioux Falls, SD | $29,920 | $26,221 | $28,931 |
*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 South Dakota
- Rapid City, SD — $29,020
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Sioux Falls, SD?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area is $29,920 a year, or about $14.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,990 and $34,560.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Sioux Falls, SD?
On the median $29,920 salary, a single filer living in South Dakota takes home about $26,221 a year ($2,185 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Sioux Falls, SD a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 15% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 9.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,931 would in a typical U.S. city. Sioux Falls, SD ranks #171 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Sioux Falls, SD?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Sioux Falls, SD is $978 a month ($1,150 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Sioux Falls, SD
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,420
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,310
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,240
- Cooks, Short Order — $35,570
- Cooks, Fast Food — $32,970
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,360
- Bartender — $30,180
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $30,150
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,830