Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,150 a year or less, while the top 10% make $39,920 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Rochester earn between $23,250 and $28,220.
- $23K10th
- $23K25th
- $24KMedian
- $28K75th
- $40K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $28,260 | $2,355 | $13.59 |
| Median | $24,060 | $2,005 | $11.57 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $23,250 | $1,938 | $11.18 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $28,220 | $2,352 | $13.57 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Rochester vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Rochester earn 6% less than the Minnesota average ($30,060) and 29% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -32% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $28,260 | $24,060 | $23,150 | $39,920 | 1,620 |
| 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 Rochester
On the average salary of $28,260, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $24,189 a year, or $2,016 a month and $930 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross 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.
Is Rochester a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.8), so the average $28,260 buys what about $31,116 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($60,620). A typical home costs $343,121, or 12.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Minnesota cities
Rochester ranks 4th of 5 Minnesota metro areas for this job; Minneapolis pays the most ($31,300).
- Minneapolis$31,300
- Duluth$28,810
- Mankato$28,580
- Rochester$28,260
- St. Cloud$27,720
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Waiters and Waitresses salary in Rochester: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Rochester?
$13.59 an hour on average, and $11.57 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,150 a year and the 25th percentile is $23,250, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Rochester?
About $24,189 a year ($2,016 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $28,260. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% 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 Rochester, MN (40340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- 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.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.