Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Bloomington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,270 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,630 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Bloomington earn between $20,950 and $35,770.
- $17K10th
- $21K25th
- $29KMedian
- $36K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $30,630 | $2,552 | $14.73 |
| Median | $28,540 | $2,378 | $13.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $20,950 | $1,746 | $10.07 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,770 | $2,981 | $17.20 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Bloomington vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Bloomington earn about the same as the Indiana average ($31,170) and 24% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | $30,630 | $28,540 | $17,270 | $46,630 | 1,620 |
| Indiana | $31,170 | $28,480 | $17,640 | $48,350 | 43,620 |
| 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 Bloomington
On the average salary of $30,630, a single filer in Bloomington takes home about $25,268 a year, or $2,106 a month and $972 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Bloomington's local income tax (2.14%).
Is Bloomington a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bloomington area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.1), so the average $30,630 buys what about $32,214 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Bloomington ($47,660). A typical home costs $303,238, or 9.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Indiana cities
Bloomington ranks 6th of 12 Indiana metro areas for this job; Indianapolis pays the most ($32,300).
- Indianapolis$32,300
- South Bend$31,830
- Lafayette$31,040
- Fort Wayne$30,730
- Evansville$30,650
- Bloomington$30,630
- Michigan City$30,490
- Kokomo$30,420
- Elkhart$30,140
- Columbus$30,060
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 Bloomington: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Bloomington?
$14.73 an hour on average, and $13.72 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Bloomington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,270 a year and the 25th percentile is $20,950, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Bloomington?
About $25,268 a year ($2,106 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,630. Includes Bloomington's local income tax (2.14%).
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Bloomington than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% 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 Bloomington, IN (14020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Includes Bloomington's local income tax (2.14%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.51, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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