Waiter and Waitress Salary in Yakima, WA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Yakima, WA metro area earn a median $49,060 a year — 39% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,600 take-home, or $3,467 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Yakima, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,707
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,042
- Medicare (1.45%)$711
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$41,600
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Yakima, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,740 | $16.70 | $30,094 | $2,508 |
| 25th percentile | $37,500 | $18.03 | $32,311 | $2,693 |
| Median (50th) | $49,060 | $23.59 | $41,600 | $3,467 |
| 75th percentile | $60,500 | $29.09 | $50,792 | $4,233 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,410 | $37.70 | $63,991 | $5,333 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,060 buys in Yakima, WA
Prices in Yakima, WA are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 27% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $41,600 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,539 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 less concentrated in Yakima, WA than nationally (location quotient 0.71), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Yakima, WA ranks #6 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 |
*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 Washington
- Bellingham, WA — $56,700
- Bremerton, WA — $55,270
- Mount Vernon, WA — $53,060
- Kennewick, WA — $51,460
- Seattle, WA — $57,280
- Olympia, WA — $53,000
- Spokane, WA — $48,560
- Wenatchee, WA — $49,820
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Yakima, WA?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Yakima, WA metro area is $49,060 a year, or about $23.59 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,500 and $60,500.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Yakima, WA?
On the median $49,060 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $41,600 a year ($3,467 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Yakima, WA a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 39% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,539 would in a typical U.S. city. Yakima, WA ranks #6 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Yakima, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Yakima, WA is $1,047 a month ($1,374 for two bedrooms) — 30% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Yakima, WA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $51,670
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,390
- Food Preparation Worker — $41,750
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $35,830