Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,730 a year or less, while the top 10% make $95,940 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Seattle earn between $46,460 and $77,690.
- $37K10th
- $46K25th
- $57KMedian
- $78K75th
- $96K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $62,940 | $5,245 | $30.26 |
| Median | $57,280 | $4,773 | $27.54 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,460 | $3,872 | $22.34 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,690 | $6,474 | $37.35 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Seattle earn 4% more than the Washington average ($60,590) and 57% more than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is +63% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $62,940 | $57,280 | $36,730 | $95,940 | 26,530 |
| Washington | $60,590 | $56,130 | $36,710 | $94,930 | 45,400 |
| 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 Seattle
On the average salary of $62,940, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $52,752 a year, or $4,396 a month and $2,029 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $62,940 buys what about $56,635 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 11.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Washington cities
Seattle ranks 1st of 11 Washington metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Seattle$62,940
- Bremerton$61,770
- Olympia$59,860
- Bellingham$59,820
- Kennewick$58,600
- Mount Vernon$58,410
- Wenatchee$58,400
- Walla Walla$58,210
- Longview$57,990
- Spokane$55,270
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 Seattle: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Seattle?
$30.26 an hour on average, and $27.54 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,730 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,460, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Seattle?
About $52,752 a year ($4,396 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $62,940. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 57% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
- 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 no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.87, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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