Waiter and Waitress Salary in Urban Honolulu, HI
Waiters and Waitresses in the Urban Honolulu, HI metro area earn a median $60,250 a year — 71% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,542 take-home, or $3,962 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Urban Honolulu, HI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,050
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,736
- Medicare (1.45%)$874
- Hawaii income tax$3,049
- Take-home pay$47,542
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 7.60% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Urban Honolulu, HI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,120 | $14.00 | $24,746 | $2,062 |
| 25th percentile | $29,320 | $14.10 | $24,894 | $2,074 |
| Median (50th) | $60,250 | $28.97 | $47,542 | $3,962 |
| 75th percentile | $80,690 | $38.79 | $60,993 | $5,083 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,690 | $48.89 | $74,171 | $6,181 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Hawaii resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,250 buys in Urban Honolulu, HI
Prices in Urban Honolulu, HI are 11.0% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.36× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $47,542 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,846 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Urban Honolulu, HI 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
Urban Honolulu, HI ranks #3 of 148 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 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $60,250 | $47,542 | $42,846 |
| 4 | Spokane, WA | $48,560 | $41,198 | $41,056 |
| 5 | Syracuse, NY | $47,640 | $38,483 | $40,195 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $54,780 | $42,232 | $40,060 |
| 7 | Albany, NY | $48,980 | $39,488 | $39,660 |
| 8 | Buffalo, NY | $46,580 | $37,689 | $39,323 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 148 metros →
About the job: waiters and waitresses
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in Hawaii
- Kahului, HI — $82,550
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Urban Honolulu, HI?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Urban Honolulu, HI metro area is $60,250 a year, or about $28.97 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,320 and $80,690.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Urban Honolulu, HI?
On the median $60,250 salary, a single filer living in Hawaii takes home about $47,542 a year ($3,962 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,049 in Hawaii taxes in 2026.
Is Urban Honolulu, HI a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 71% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 11.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,846 would in a typical U.S. city. Urban Honolulu, HI ranks #3 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Urban Honolulu, HI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Urban Honolulu, HI is $2,016 a month ($2,642 for two bedrooms) — 51% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Urban Honolulu, HI
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $50,200
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $48,310
- Cooks, Restaurant — $42,450
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,300
- Dishwasher — $36,400
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $35,080