Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Helena
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,940 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,420 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Helena earn between $22,140 and $28,120.
- $22K10th
- $22K25th
- $23KMedian
- $28K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $28,790 | $2,399 | $13.84 |
| Median | $23,020 | $1,918 | $11.07 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $22,140 | $1,845 | $10.64 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $28,120 | $2,343 | $13.52 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Helena vs. Montana and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Helena earn about the same as the Montana average ($29,180) and 28% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -35% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena | $28,790 | $23,020 | $21,940 | $45,420 | 520 |
| Montana | $29,180 | $23,370 | $21,940 | $45,420 | 7,200 |
| 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 Helena
On the average salary of $28,790, a single filer in Helena takes home about $24,716 a year, or $2,060 a month and $951 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).
Is Helena a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Helena area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $28,790 buys what about $30,091 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Helena ($55,040). A typical home costs $477,996, or 16.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Montana cities
Helena ranks 3rd of 5 Montana metro areas for this job; Bozeman pays the most ($31,680).
- Bozeman$31,680
- Billings$29,590
- Helena$28,790
- Great Falls$28,020
- Missoula$27,940
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 Helena: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Helena?
$13.84 an hour on average, and $11.07 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Helena?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,940 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Helena?
About $24,716 a year ($2,060 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $28,790.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Helena than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% 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 Helena, MT (25740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.9%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.80, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.80).
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