Waiter and Waitress Salary in Waterbury, CT
Waiters and Waitresses in the Waterbury-Shelton, CT metro area earn a median $36,890 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,086 take-home, or $2,591 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Waterbury, CT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,247
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,287
- Medicare (1.45%)$535
- Connecticut income tax$735
- Take-home pay$31,086
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Waterbury, CT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,010 | $16.35 | $28,902 | $2,408 |
| 25th percentile | $34,010 | $16.35 | $28,902 | $2,408 |
| Median (50th) | $36,890 | $17.74 | $31,086 | $2,591 |
| 75th percentile | $45,530 | $21.89 | $37,640 | $3,137 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,510 | $29.09 | $49,002 | $4,083 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Connecticut resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,890 buys in Waterbury, CT
Prices in Waterbury, CT are 0.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $31,086 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,155 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 Waterbury, CT as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.83).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Waterbury, CT ranks #125 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 |
| 125 | Waterbury, CT | $36,890 | $31,086 | $31,155 |
*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 Connecticut
- Norwich, CT — $37,880
- Hartford, CT — $37,200
- New Haven, CT — $37,900
- Bridgeport, CT — $38,820
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Waterbury, CT?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Waterbury-Shelton, CT metro area is $36,890 a year, or about $17.74 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,010 and $45,530.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Waterbury, CT?
On the median $36,890 salary, a single filer living in Connecticut takes home about $31,086 a year ($2,591 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $735 in Connecticut taxes in 2026.
Is Waterbury, CT a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 0.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,155 would in a typical U.S. city. Waterbury, CT ranks #125 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Waterbury, CT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Waterbury, CT is $1,445 a month ($1,788 for two bedrooms) — 56% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Waterbury, CT
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $51,220
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $44,110
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,570
- Bartender — $37,290
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,580
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,850
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,780
- Dishwasher — $34,470
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,010