Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Tucson
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,580 a year or less, while the top 10% make $73,520 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Tucson earn between $31,460 and $56,870.
- $31K10th
- $31K25th
- $36KMedian
- $57K75th
- $74K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,450 | $3,788 | $21.85 |
| Median | $36,490 | $3,041 | $17.54 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,460 | $2,622 | $15.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $56,870 | $4,739 | $27.34 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Tucson vs. Arizona and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Tucson earn 11% less than the Arizona average ($51,170) and 13% more than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson | $45,450 | $36,490 | $30,580 | $73,520 | 7,300 |
| Arizona | $51,170 | $43,950 | $30,580 | $78,920 | 55,950 |
| 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 Tucson
On the average salary of $45,450, a single filer in Tucson takes home about $37,957 a year, or $3,163 a month and $1,460 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Tucson a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Tucson area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.9), so the average $45,450 buys what about $46,906 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Tucson ($47,760). A typical home costs $343,580, or 7.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Arizona cities
Tucson ranks 4th of 7 Arizona metro areas for this job; Phoenix pays the most ($53,370).
- Phoenix$53,370
- Flagstaff$48,990
- Prescott Valley$45,850
- Tucson$45,450
- Lake Havasu City$45,060
- Yuma$44,250
- Sierra Vista$40,940
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 Tucson: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Tucson?
$21.85 an hour on average, and $17.54 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Tucson?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,580 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,460, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Tucson?
About $37,957 a year ($3,163 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,450.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Tucson than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% more 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 Tucson, AZ (46060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.28, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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