Waiter and Waitress Salary in Dayton, OH
Waiters and Waitresses in the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro area earn a median $36,600 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,364 take-home, or $2,614 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Dayton, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,212
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,269
- Medicare (1.45%)$531
- Ohio income tax$224
- Take-home pay$31,364
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Dayton? City residents also pay Dayton’s city income tax — about $915 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $30,449 ($2,537 a month). Choose “Dayton” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Dayton, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,680 | $11.38 | $21,110 | $1,759 |
| 25th percentile | $29,070 | $13.98 | $25,521 | $2,127 |
| Median (50th) | $36,600 | $17.60 | $31,364 | $2,614 |
| 75th percentile | $49,080 | $23.60 | $41,048 | $3,421 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,370 | $30.47 | $52,137 | $4,345 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,600 buys in Dayton, OH
Prices in Dayton, OH are 7.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 27% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $31,364 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,836 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 Dayton, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Dayton, OH ranks #22 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 |
| 22 | Dayton, OH | $36,600 | $31,364 | $33,836 |
*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 Ohio
- Canton, OH — $36,210
- Toledo, OH — $36,140
- Columbus, OH — $37,490
- Youngstown, OH — $33,910
- Akron, OH — $36,150
- Cleveland, OH — $36,260
- Cincinnati, OH — $36,530
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Dayton, OH?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro area is $36,600 a year, or about $17.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,070 and $49,080.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Dayton, OH?
On the median $36,600 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $31,364 a year ($2,614 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $224 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Dayton, OH a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 7.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,836 would in a typical U.S. city. Dayton, OH ranks #22 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Dayton, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dayton, OH is $1,009 a month ($1,273 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Dayton, OH
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,680
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,700
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,680