Waiter and Waitress Salary in Sioux Falls, SD
Waiters and Waitresses in the Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area earn a median $29,920 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,221 take-home, or $2,185 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Sioux Falls, SD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,410
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,855
- Medicare (1.45%)$434
- South Dakota income tax$0
- Take-home pay$26,221
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
The Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro spans South Dakota, Minnesota. 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 Sioux Falls, SD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,020 | $13.47 | $24,684 | $2,057 |
| 25th percentile | $28,990 | $13.94 | $25,473 | $2,123 |
| Median (50th) | $29,920 | $14.38 | $26,221 | $2,185 |
| 75th percentile | $34,560 | $16.62 | $29,949 | $2,496 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,060 | $18.78 | $33,565 | $2,797 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Dakota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,920 buys in Sioux Falls, SD
Prices in Sioux Falls, SD are 9.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 22% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $26,221 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,931 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 Sioux Falls, SD as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.98).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Sioux Falls, SD ranks #78 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 |
| 78 | Sioux Falls, SD | $29,920 | $26,221 | $28,931 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Sioux Falls, SD?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area is $29,920 a year, or about $14.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,990 and $34,560.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Sioux Falls, SD?
On the median $29,920 salary, a single filer living in South Dakota takes home about $26,221 a year ($2,185 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Sioux Falls, SD a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 15% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 9.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,931 would in a typical U.S. city. Sioux Falls, SD ranks #78 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Sioux Falls, SD?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Sioux Falls, SD is $978 a month ($1,150 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Sioux Falls, SD
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,830