Waiter and Waitress Salary in Miami, FL
Waiters and Waitresses in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area earn a median $36,070 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,162 take-home, or $2,597 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Miami, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,148
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,236
- Medicare (1.45%)$523
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$31,162
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Miami, FL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,260 | $13.11 | $24,059 | $2,005 |
| 25th percentile | $28,040 | $13.48 | $24,701 | $2,058 |
| Median (50th) | $36,070 | $17.34 | $31,162 | $2,597 |
| 75th percentile | $46,890 | $22.54 | $39,856 | $3,321 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,680 | $30.62 | $53,347 | $4,446 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,070 buys in Miami, FL
Prices in Miami, FL are 14.2% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.56× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $31,162 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,298 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Miami, FL has 1.4× the national concentration of waiter and waitress jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Miami, FL ranks #94 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 |
| 94 | Miami, FL | $36,070 | $31,162 | $27,298 |
*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 Florida
- Crestview, FL — $37,370
- Tallahassee, FL — $34,850
- Jacksonville, FL — $36,630
- Tampa, FL — $37,070
- Gainesville, FL — $35,400
- Palm Bay, FL — $36,670
- Lakeland, FL — $35,270
- Naples, FL — $37,550
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Miami, FL?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area is $36,070 a year, or about $17.34 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,040 and $46,890.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Miami, FL?
On the median $36,070 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $31,162 a year ($2,597 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Miami, FL a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 14.2% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,298 would in a typical U.S. city. Miami, FL ranks #94 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Miami, FL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Miami, FL is $1,942 a month ($2,359 for two bedrooms) — 75% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Miami, FL
- Chef and Head Cook — $57,940
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,500
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,920
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,480
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,090
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,950
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,710
- Bartender — $34,700
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $32,280
- Dishwasher — $31,480
- Cooks, Fast Food — $30,990
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,600