Waiter and Waitress Salary in Staunton, VA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA metro area earn a median $37,910 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,275 take-home, or $2,606 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Staunton, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,369
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,350
- Medicare (1.45%)$550
- Virginia income tax$1,366
- Take-home pay$31,275
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Staunton, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,310 | $13.13 | $23,344 | $1,945 |
| 25th percentile | $30,150 | $14.50 | $25,486 | $2,124 |
| Median (50th) | $37,910 | $18.23 | $31,275 | $2,606 |
| 75th percentile | $48,780 | $23.45 | $39,384 | $3,282 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,950 | $29.78 | $49,209 | $4,101 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,910 buys in Staunton, VA
Prices in Staunton, VA are 8.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 32% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $31,275 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,320 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 Staunton, VA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Staunton, VA ranks #58 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 |
| 58 | Staunton, VA | $37,910 | $31,275 | $34,320 |
*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 Virginia
- Harrisonburg, VA — $44,760
- Charlottesville, VA — $44,030
- Lynchburg, VA — $36,780
- Blacksburg, VA — $37,670
- Roanoke, VA — $37,380
- Virginia Beach, VA — $39,020
- Richmond, VA — $38,470
- Winchester, VA — $37,680
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Staunton, VA?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA metro area is $37,910 a year, or about $18.23 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,150 and $48,780.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Staunton, VA?
On the median $37,910 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $31,275 a year ($2,606 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,366 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Staunton, VA a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 8.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,320 would in a typical U.S. city. Staunton, VA ranks #58 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Staunton, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Staunton, VA is $1,095 a month ($1,261 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Staunton, VA
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,900
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,310