Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Columbus
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,160 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Columbus earn between $15,080 and $31,420.
- $15K10th
- $15K25th
- $21KMedian
- $31K75th
- $43K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $25,590 | $2,132 | $12.30 |
| Median | $20,800 | $1,733 | $10.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $15,080 | $1,257 | $7.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $31,420 | $2,618 | $15.11 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Columbus vs. Georgia and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Columbus earn 4% less than the Georgia average ($26,610) and 36% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -41% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $25,590 | $20,800 | $15,080 | $43,160 | 2,080 |
| Georgia | $26,610 | $18,700 | $15,080 | $46,860 | 76,470 |
| 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 Columbus
On the average salary of $25,590, a single filer in Columbus takes home about $22,155 a year, or $1,846 a month and $852 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
The Columbus, GA-AL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in GA | $22,155 | $1,846 |
| Working in AL | $21,716 | $1,810 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbus a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbus area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.3), so the average $25,590 buys what about $28,657 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbus ($43,540). A typical home costs $209,527, or 8.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Georgia cities
Columbus ranks 8th of 14 Georgia metro areas for this job; Savannah pays the most ($29,060).
- Savannah$29,060
- Athens$26,880
- Atlanta$26,870
- Warner Robins$26,300
- Augusta$26,090
- Brunswick$25,830
- Hinesville$25,790
- Columbus$25,590
- Rome$25,270
- Macon$25,100
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 Columbus: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Columbus?
$12.30 an hour on average, and $10.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Columbus?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $15,080, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Columbus?
About $22,155 a year ($1,846 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $25,590.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Columbus than elsewhere?
The average here is 36% 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 Columbus, GA-AL (17980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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 1.22, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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