Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Gainesville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,090 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,390 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Gainesville earn between $27,950 and $45,430.
- $27K10th
- $28K25th
- $35KMedian
- $45K75th
- $60K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,920 | $3,327 | $19.19 |
| Median | $35,400 | $2,950 | $17.02 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,950 | $2,329 | $13.44 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $45,430 | $3,786 | $21.84 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Gainesville vs. Florida and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Gainesville earn 5% less than the Florida average ($41,840) and about the same as the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is +0% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville | $39,920 | $35,400 | $27,090 | $60,390 | 2,540 |
| Florida | $41,840 | $36,150 | $27,230 | $63,580 | 207,180 |
| 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 Gainesville
On the average salary of $39,920, a single filer in Gainesville takes home about $34,256 a year, or $2,855 a month and $1,318 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Gainesville a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Gainesville area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.7), so the average $39,920 buys what about $41,268 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Gainesville ($47,020). A typical home costs $306,605, or 7.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Florida cities
Gainesville ranks 19th of 22 Florida metro areas for this job; Naples pays the most ($44,610).
- Naples$44,610
- Tampa$44,090
- Crestview$43,640
- Wildwood$42,850
- Jacksonville$42,480
- Fort Myers$42,470
- Punta Gorda$42,270
- Sarasota$42,190
- Orlando$41,420
- Gainesville$39,920
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 Gainesville: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Gainesville?
$19.19 an hour on average, and $17.02 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Gainesville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,090 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,950, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Gainesville?
About $34,256 a year ($2,855 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,920. Florida has no state income tax.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Gainesville than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Gainesville, FL (23540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.14, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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