Waiter and Waitress Salary in Topeka, KS
Waiters and Waitresses in the Topeka, KS metro area earn a median $35,090 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,214 take-home, or $2,434 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Topeka, KS. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,031
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,176
- Medicare (1.45%)$509
- Kansas income tax$1,161
- Take-home pay$29,214
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.20% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Topeka, KS
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,250 | $8.29 | $15,582 | $1,299 |
| 25th percentile | $27,440 | $13.19 | $23,444 | $1,954 |
| Median (50th) | $35,090 | $16.87 | $29,214 | $2,434 |
| 75th percentile | $47,540 | $22.86 | $38,525 | $3,210 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,690 | $30.14 | $49,853 | $4,154 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kansas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,090 buys in Topeka, KS
Prices in Topeka, KS are 11.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 35% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $29,214 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,891 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 less concentrated in Topeka, KS than nationally (location quotient 0.79), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Topeka, KS ranks #84 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 |
| 84 | Topeka, KS | $35,090 | $29,214 | $32,891 |
*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 Kansas
- Wichita, KS — $37,300
- Lawrence, KS — $37,230
- Manhattan, KS — $33,140
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Topeka, KS?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Topeka, KS metro area is $35,090 a year, or about $16.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,440 and $47,540.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Topeka, KS?
On the median $35,090 salary, a single filer living in Kansas takes home about $29,214 a year ($2,434 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,161 in Kansas taxes in 2026.
Is Topeka, KS a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 11.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,891 would in a typical U.S. city. Topeka, KS ranks #84 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Topeka, KS?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Topeka, KS is $820 a month ($1,057 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 Topeka, KS
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,890
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,450
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $33,200
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,300
- Bartender — $27,860
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,810