Waiter and Waitress Salary in Spokane, WA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro area earn a median $48,560 a year — 38% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,198 take-home, or $3,433 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Spokane, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,647
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,011
- Medicare (1.45%)$704
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$41,198
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Spokane, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,930 | $17.27 | $31,050 | $2,587 |
| 25th percentile | $43,850 | $21.08 | $37,413 | $3,118 |
| Median (50th) | $48,560 | $23.35 | $41,198 | $3,433 |
| 75th percentile | $60,320 | $29.00 | $50,647 | $4,221 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,500 | $39.18 | $66,165 | $5,514 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $48,560 buys in Spokane, WA
Prices in Spokane, WA are 0.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 3% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $41,198 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,056 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 Spokane, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Spokane, WA ranks #11 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 |
| 11 | Spokane, WA | $48,560 | $41,198 | $41,056 |
*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
- Seattle, WA — $57,280
- Olympia, WA — $53,000
- Wenatchee, WA — $49,820
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Spokane, WA?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro area is $48,560 a year, or about $23.35 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $43,850 and $60,320.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Spokane, WA?
On the median $48,560 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $41,198 a year ($3,433 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Spokane, WA a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 38% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,056 would in a typical U.S. city. Spokane, WA ranks #11 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Spokane, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Spokane, WA is $1,168 a month ($1,499 for two bedrooms) — 34% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Spokane, WA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $51,770
- Bartender — $50,210
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $45,330
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,230
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,360
- Dishwasher — $36,330
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $36,190
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $35,780
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $35,730