Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Albuquerque
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,650 a year or less, while the top 10% make $69,370 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Albuquerque earn between $29,110 and $58,930.
- $28K10th
- $29K25th
- $38KMedian
- $59K75th
- $69K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,830 | $3,652 | $21.07 |
| Median | $38,050 | $3,171 | $18.29 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,110 | $2,426 | $14.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $58,930 | $4,911 | $28.33 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Albuquerque vs. New Mexico and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Albuquerque earn about the same as the New Mexico average ($43,210) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is +8% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $43,830 | $38,050 | $27,650 | $69,370 | 5,880 |
| New Mexico | $43,210 | $36,920 | $26,670 | $69,410 | 12,740 |
| 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 Albuquerque
On the average salary of $43,830, a single filer in Albuquerque takes home about $36,480 a year, or $3,040 a month and $1,403 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 Albuquerque a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Albuquerque area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.5), so the average $43,830 buys what about $45,873 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Albuquerque ($48,060). A typical home costs $352,894, or 8.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other New Mexico cities
Albuquerque ranks 2nd of 4 New Mexico metro areas for this job; Santa Fe pays the most ($49,990).
- Santa Fe$49,990
- Albuquerque$43,830
- Las Cruces$43,760
- Farmington$43,460
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 Albuquerque: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Albuquerque?
$21.07 an hour on average, and $18.29 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Albuquerque?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,650 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,110, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Albuquerque?
About $36,480 a year ($3,040 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,830.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Albuquerque than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Albuquerque, NM (10740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- 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 0.99, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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