Waiter and Waitress Salary in Fort Collins, CO
Waiters and Waitresses in the Fort Collins-Loveland, CO metro area earn a median $47,360 a year — 34% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,858 take-home, or $3,238 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Fort Collins, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,503
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,936
- Medicare (1.45%)$687
- Colorado income tax$1,375
- Take-home pay$38,858
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Fort Collins, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,800 | $14.81 | $26,281 | $2,190 |
| 25th percentile | $31,140 | $14.97 | $26,539 | $2,212 |
| Median (50th) | $47,360 | $22.77 | $38,858 | $3,238 |
| 75th percentile | $63,060 | $30.32 | $50,782 | $4,232 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,380 | $37.20 | $60,571 | $5,048 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,360 buys in Fort Collins, CO
Prices in Fort Collins, CO are 1.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $38,858 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,425 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 Fort Collins, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Fort Collins, CO ranks #10 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 |
| 10 | Fort Collins, CO | $47,360 | $38,858 | $38,425 |
*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 Colorado
- Boulder, CO — $49,870
- Colorado Springs, CO — $46,230
- Denver, CO — $39,650
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Fort Collins, CO?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Fort Collins-Loveland, CO metro area is $47,360 a year, or about $22.77 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,140 and $63,060.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Fort Collins, CO?
On the median $47,360 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $38,858 a year ($3,238 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,375 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Fort Collins, CO a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 34% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 1.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,425 would in a typical U.S. city. Fort Collins, CO ranks #10 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Fort Collins, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Fort Collins, CO is $1,537 a month ($1,732 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Fort Collins, CO
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,850