Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Minneapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,260 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,280 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Minneapolis earn between $23,650 and $33,120.
- $23K10th
- $24K25th
- $26KMedian
- $33K75th
- $43K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,300 | $2,608 | $15.05 |
| Median | $25,920 | $2,160 | $12.46 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $23,650 | $1,971 | $11.37 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $33,120 | $2,760 | $15.92 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Minneapolis vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Minneapolis earn 4% more than the Minnesota average ($30,060) and 22% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -26% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $31,300 | $25,920 | $23,260 | $43,280 | 25,620 |
| Minnesota | $30,060 | $25,470 | $23,150 | $41,800 | 37,630 |
| 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 Minneapolis
On the average salary of $31,300, a single filer in Minneapolis takes home about $26,474 a year, or $2,206 a month and $1,018 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WI | $26,674 | $2,223 |
| Working in MN | $26,474 | $2,206 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Is Minneapolis a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Minneapolis area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.8), so the average $31,300 buys what about $29,860 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Minneapolis ($59,320). A typical home costs $393,774, or 12.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Minnesota cities
Minneapolis ranks 1st of 5 Minnesota metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Minneapolis: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Minneapolis?
$15.05 an hour on average, and $12.46 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Minneapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,260 a year and the 25th percentile is $23,650, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Minneapolis?
About $26,474 a year ($2,206 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,300. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Minneapolis than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% 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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI (33460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- 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). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.90, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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