Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Lincoln
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,980 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Lincoln earn between $29,390 and $47,730.
- $28K10th
- $29K25th
- $36KMedian
- $48K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,660 | $3,472 | $20.03 |
| Median | $36,080 | $3,007 | $17.35 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,390 | $2,449 | $14.13 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,730 | $3,978 | $22.95 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Lincoln vs. Nebraska and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Lincoln earn 5% more than the Nebraska average ($39,590) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $41,660 | $36,080 | $28,080 | $60,980 | 2,520 |
| Nebraska | $39,590 | $33,770 | $28,080 | $59,420 | 13,310 |
| 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 Lincoln
On the average salary of $41,660, a single filer in Lincoln takes home about $34,638 a year, or $2,886 a month and $1,332 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Lincoln a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lincoln area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.6), so the average $41,660 buys what about $45,490 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Lincoln ($49,800). A typical home costs $304,242, or 7.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Nebraska cities
Lincoln ranks 1st of 3 Nebraska metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Lincoln$41,660
- Omaha$39,620
- Grand Island$38,690
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 Lincoln: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Lincoln?
$20.03 an hour on average, and $17.35 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Lincoln?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,390, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Lincoln?
About $34,638 a year ($2,886 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,660.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Lincoln than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% more 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 Lincoln, NE (30700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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 0.95, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.