Waiter and Waitress Salary in Des Moines, IA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $20,410 a year — 42% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $18,294 take-home, or $1,524 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$431
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,265
- Medicare (1.45%)$296
- Iowa income tax$124
- Take-home pay$18,294
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.80% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 | $13,926 | $1,161 |
| 25th percentile | $15,080 | $7.25 | $13,926 | $1,161 |
| Median (50th) | $20,410 | $9.81 | $18,294 | $1,524 |
| 75th percentile | $36,240 | $17.42 | $30,574 | $2,548 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,760 | $23.44 | $40,158 | $3,346 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $20,410 buys in Des Moines, IA
Prices in Des Moines, IA are 8.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 15% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $18,294 take-home pay has the buying power of $19,949 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 Des Moines, IA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #133 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 |
| 133 | Des Moines, IA | $20,410 | $18,294 | $19,949 |
*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 Iowa
- Davenport, IA — $31,200
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Des Moines, IA?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $20,410 a year, or about $9.81 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $15,080 and $36,240.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $20,410 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $18,294 a year ($1,524 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $124 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 42% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $19,949 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #133 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Des Moines, IA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Des Moines, IA is $1,092 a month ($1,302 for two bedrooms) — 72% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Des Moines, IA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,650
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,070
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,140