Waiter and Waitress Salary in Tucson, AZ
Waiters and Waitresses in the Tucson, AZ metro area earn a median $36,490 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,796 take-home, or $2,566 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Tucson, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,199
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,262
- Medicare (1.45%)$529
- Arizona income tax$704
- Take-home pay$30,796
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Tucson, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,580 | $14.70 | $26,195 | $2,183 |
| 25th percentile | $31,460 | $15.13 | $26,880 | $2,240 |
| Median (50th) | $36,490 | $17.54 | $30,796 | $2,566 |
| 75th percentile | $56,870 | $27.34 | $46,662 | $3,889 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,520 | $35.35 | $58,922 | $4,910 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,490 buys in Tucson, AZ
Prices in Tucson, AZ are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 8% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $30,796 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,783 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Tucson, AZ has 1.3× the national concentration of waiter and waitress jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Tucson, AZ ranks #103 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 |
| 103 | Tucson, AZ | $36,490 | $30,796 | $31,783 |
*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 Arizona
- Phoenix, AZ — $47,530
- Yuma, AZ — $36,120
- Lake Havasu City, AZ — $36,370
- Sierra Vista, AZ — $34,020
- Prescott Valley, AZ — $36,670
- Flagstaff, AZ — $37,080
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Tucson, AZ?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Tucson, AZ metro area is $36,490 a year, or about $17.54 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,460 and $56,870.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Tucson, AZ?
On the median $36,490 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $30,796 a year ($2,566 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $704 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Tucson, AZ a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,783 would in a typical U.S. city. Tucson, AZ ranks #103 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Tucson, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tucson, AZ is $1,081 a month ($1,402 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 Tucson, AZ
- Chef and Head Cook — $49,990
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,200
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,620
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,500
- Bartender — $36,450
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,260
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,990
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $33,560
- Dishwasher — $33,490
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $32,010
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,690
- Cooks, Fast Food — $30,830