Waiter and Waitress Salary in Omaha, NE
Waiters and Waitresses in the Omaha, NE-IA metro area earn a median $34,290 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,051 take-home, or $2,421 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Omaha, NE. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,935
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,126
- Medicare (1.45%)$497
- Nebraska income tax$681
- Take-home pay$29,051
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.55% state
The Omaha, NE-IA metro spans Nebraska, Iowa. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Omaha, NE
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,080 | $13.50 | $24,278 | $2,023 |
| 25th percentile | $29,220 | $14.05 | $25,163 | $2,097 |
| Median (50th) | $34,290 | $16.49 | $29,051 | $2,421 |
| 75th percentile | $47,530 | $22.85 | $39,087 | $3,257 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,870 | $28.78 | $48,441 | $4,037 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Nebraska resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,290 buys in Omaha, NE
Prices in Omaha, NE are 8.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 14% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $29,051 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,608 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 Omaha, NE as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.05).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Omaha, NE ranks #45 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 |
| 45 | Omaha, NE | $34,290 | $29,051 | $31,608 |
*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 Nebraska
- Lincoln, NE — $36,080
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Omaha, NE?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Omaha, NE-IA metro area is $34,290 a year, or about $16.49 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,220 and $47,530.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Omaha, NE?
On the median $34,290 salary, a single filer living in Nebraska takes home about $29,051 a year ($2,421 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $681 in Nebraska taxes in 2026.
Is Omaha, NE a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 8.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,608 would in a typical U.S. city. Omaha, NE ranks #45 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Omaha, NE?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Omaha, NE is $1,144 a month ($1,362 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 Omaha, NE
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $40,740
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,840
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,140
- Bartender — $34,630
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,450