Waiter and Waitress Salary in Ann Arbor, MI
Waiters and Waitresses in the Ann Arbor, MI metro area earn a median $40,230 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $33,046 take-home, or $2,754 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Ann Arbor, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,648
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,494
- Medicare (1.45%)$583
- Michigan income tax$1,459
- Take-home pay$33,046
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Ann Arbor, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,420 | $13.18 | $23,276 | $1,940 |
| 25th percentile | $33,540 | $16.13 | $27,955 | $2,330 |
| Median (50th) | $40,230 | $19.34 | $33,046 | $2,754 |
| 75th percentile | $61,010 | $29.33 | $48,859 | $4,072 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,790 | $34.51 | $56,534 | $4,711 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $40,230 buys in Ann Arbor, MI
Prices in Ann Arbor, MI are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.25× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $33,046 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,758 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 Ann Arbor, MI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.84).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Ann Arbor, MI ranks #34 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 |
| 34 | Ann Arbor, MI | $40,230 | $33,046 | $32,758 |
*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 Michigan
- Grand Rapids, MI — $42,930
- Lansing, MI — $38,210
- Detroit, MI — $37,490
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Ann Arbor, MI?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Ann Arbor, MI metro area is $40,230 a year, or about $19.34 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,540 and $61,010.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Ann Arbor, MI?
On the median $40,230 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $33,046 a year ($2,754 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,459 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Ann Arbor, MI a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 14% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,758 would in a typical U.S. city. Ann Arbor, MI ranks #34 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Ann Arbor, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Ann Arbor, MI is $1,387 a month ($1,656 for two bedrooms) — 50% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Ann Arbor, MI
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $33,220