Waiter and Waitress Salary in Reno, NV
Waiters and Waitresses in the Reno, NV metro area earn a median $25,700 a year — 27% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $22,774 take-home, or $1,898 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Reno, NV. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$960
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,593
- Medicare (1.45%)$373
- Nevada income tax$0
- Take-home pay$22,774
Marginal rate: 10% 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 Reno, NV
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,960 | $12.00 | $22,165 | $1,847 |
| 25th percentile | $24,960 | $12.00 | $22,165 | $1,847 |
| Median (50th) | $25,700 | $12.36 | $22,774 | $1,898 |
| 75th percentile | $28,360 | $13.63 | $24,964 | $2,080 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,570 | $17.58 | $31,564 | $2,630 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Nevada resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $25,700 buys in Reno, NV
Prices in Reno, NV are 1.0% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.23× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $22,774 take-home pay has the buying power of $22,545 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 Reno, NV as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.05).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Reno, NV ranks #120 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 |
| 120 | Reno, NV | $25,700 | $22,774 | $22,545 |
*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 Nevada
- Las Vegas, NV — $27,110
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Reno, NV?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Reno, NV metro area is $25,700 a year, or about $12.36 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $24,960 and $28,360.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Reno, NV?
On the median $25,700 salary, a single filer living in Nevada takes home about $22,774 a year ($1,898 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Reno, NV a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 27% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 1.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $22,545 would in a typical U.S. city. Reno, NV ranks #120 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Reno, NV?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Reno, NV is $1,444 a month ($1,805 for two bedrooms) — 76% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Reno, NV
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,930
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,530