Waiter and Waitress Salary in Terre Haute, IN
Waiters and Waitresses in the Terre Haute, IN metro area earn a median $26,520 a year — 25% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $22,696 take-home, or $1,891 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Terre Haute, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,042
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,644
- Medicare (1.45%)$385
- Indiana income tax$753
- Take-home pay$22,696
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 2.95% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Terre Haute, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,420 | $7.89 | $14,677 | $1,223 |
| 25th percentile | $19,270 | $9.26 | $16,940 | $1,412 |
| Median (50th) | $26,520 | $12.75 | $22,696 | $1,891 |
| 75th percentile | $30,740 | $14.78 | $26,002 | $2,167 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,070 | $21.19 | $36,320 | $3,027 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $26,520 buys in Terre Haute, IN
Prices in Terre Haute, IN are 12.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 48% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $22,696 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,851 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 Terre Haute, IN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.10).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Terre Haute, IN ranks #266 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 |
| 266 | Terre Haute, IN | $26,520 | $22,696 | $25,851 |
*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 Indiana
- Kokomo, IN — $28,420
- Evansville, IN — $28,550
- Elkhart, IN — $28,060
- Fort Wayne, IN — $28,650
- South Bend, IN — $28,740
- Michigan City, IN — $28,260
- Lafayette, IN — $28,420
- Indianapolis, IN — $29,050
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Terre Haute, IN?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Terre Haute, IN metro area is $26,520 a year, or about $12.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $19,270 and $30,740.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Terre Haute, IN?
On the median $26,520 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $22,696 a year ($1,891 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $753 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Terre Haute, IN a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 25% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 12.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,851 would in a typical U.S. city. Terre Haute, IN ranks #266 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Terre Haute, IN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Terre Haute, IN is $854 a month ($1,086 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 Terre Haute, IN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,890
- Cooks, Restaurant — $29,830
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,020