Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Decatur
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,210 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,060 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Decatur earn between $17,610 and $29,350.
- $16K10th
- $18K25th
- $27KMedian
- $29K75th
- $36K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $26,240 | $2,187 | $12.62 |
| Median | $27,010 | $2,251 | $12.99 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $17,610 | $1,468 | $8.47 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $29,350 | $2,446 | $14.11 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Decatur vs. Alabama and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Decatur earn 4% less than the Alabama average ($27,200) and 34% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -23% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur | $26,240 | $27,010 | $16,210 | $36,060 | 670 |
| Alabama | $27,200 | $26,840 | $16,550 | $36,090 | 28,760 |
| United States | $40,060 | $35,230 | $18,100 | $64,720 | 2,270,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Waiters and Waitresses salary after taxes in Decatur
On the average salary of $26,240, a single filer in Decatur takes home about $22,221 a year, or $1,852 a month and $855 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Is Decatur a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Decatur area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.2), so the average $26,240 buys what about $30,088 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Decatur ($46,280). A typical home costs $232,614, or 8.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Alabama cities
Decatur ranks 8th of 12 Alabama metro areas for this job; Daphne pays the most ($28,580).
- Daphne$28,580
- Huntsville$28,330
- Tuscaloosa$28,240
- Birmingham$27,870
- Mobile$27,680
- Auburn$26,860
- Florence$26,350
- Decatur$26,240
- Montgomery$26,200
- Anniston$25,580
Highest-paying cities for waiters and waitresses
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($87,210).
- Kahului, HI$87,210
- Seattle, WA$62,940
- Honolulu, HI$61,880
- Bremerton, WA$61,770
- Burlington, VT$61,070
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Waiters and Waitresses salary in Decatur: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Decatur?
$12.61 an hour on average, and $12.99 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Decatur?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,210 a year and the 25th percentile is $17,610, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Decatur?
About $22,221 a year ($1,852 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $26,240. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Decatur than elsewhere?
The average here is 34% less than the U.S. average for this job ($40,060).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3031; area Decatur, AL (19460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.75, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.75).
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