Waiter and Waitress Salary in Tulsa, OK
Waiters and Waitresses in the Tulsa, OK metro area earn a median $18,350 a year — 48% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $16,441 take-home, or $1,370 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Tulsa, OK. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$225
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,138
- Medicare (1.45%)$266
- Oklahoma income tax$280
- Take-home pay$16,441
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 4.50% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Tulsa, OK
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,200 | $7.79 | $14,767 | $1,231 |
| 25th percentile | $16,740 | $8.05 | $15,188 | $1,266 |
| Median (50th) | $18,350 | $8.82 | $16,441 | $1,370 |
| 75th percentile | $29,800 | $14.33 | $25,329 | $2,111 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,100 | $23.13 | $39,209 | $3,267 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oklahoma resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $18,350 buys in Tulsa, OK
Prices in Tulsa, OK are 10.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 32% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $16,441 take-home pay has the buying power of $18,429 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 Tulsa, OK as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Tulsa, OK ranks #350 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 |
| 350 | Tulsa, OK | $18,350 | $16,441 | $18,429 |
*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 Oklahoma
- Oklahoma City, OK — $18,200
- Lawton, OK — $17,150
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Tulsa, OK?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Tulsa, OK metro area is $18,350 a year, or about $8.82 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $16,740 and $29,800.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Tulsa, OK?
On the median $18,350 salary, a single filer living in Oklahoma takes home about $16,441 a year ($1,370 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $280 in Oklahoma taxes in 2026.
Is Tulsa, OK a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 48% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 10.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $18,429 would in a typical U.S. city. Tulsa, OK ranks #350 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Tulsa, OK?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tulsa, OK is $976 a month ($1,204 for two bedrooms) — 71% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Tulsa, OK
- Chef and Head Cook — $54,930
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,900
- Cooks, Restaurant — $33,410
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $30,750
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $30,430
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,370
- Dishwasher — $28,600
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,100
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $27,700
- Bartender — $27,450
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $26,460
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $24,960