Waiter and Waitress Salary in Wichita, KS
Waiters and Waitresses in the Wichita, KS metro area earn a median $37,300 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,869 take-home, or $2,572 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Wichita, KS. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,296
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,313
- Medicare (1.45%)$541
- Kansas income tax$1,282
- Take-home pay$30,869
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.58% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Wichita, KS
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,300 | $8.32 | $15,621 | $1,302 |
| 25th percentile | $29,380 | $14.13 | $24,923 | $2,077 |
| Median (50th) | $37,300 | $17.93 | $30,869 | $2,572 |
| 75th percentile | $49,460 | $23.78 | $39,961 | $3,330 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,560 | $30.56 | $50,503 | $4,209 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kansas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,300 buys in Wichita, KS
Prices in Wichita, KS are 11.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 34% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $30,869 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,705 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 Wichita, KS as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.01).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Wichita, KS ranks #17 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 |
| 17 | Wichita, KS | $37,300 | $30,869 | $34,705 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Wichita, KS?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Wichita, KS metro area is $37,300 a year, or about $17.93 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,380 and $49,460.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Wichita, KS?
On the median $37,300 salary, a single filer living in Kansas takes home about $30,869 a year ($2,572 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,282 in Kansas taxes in 2026.
Is Wichita, KS a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 11.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,705 would in a typical U.S. city. Wichita, KS ranks #17 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Wichita, KS?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Wichita, KS is $848 a month ($1,098 for two bedrooms) — 33% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Wichita, KS
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,420
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,510
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,420