Salaries › Waiter / Waitress › Colorado
Waiter / Waitress Salary in Colorado (2026)
$21.57 per hour · take-home ≈ $36,960/year ($3,080/month) for a single filer
Waiter / Waitress pay range in Colorado
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $30,800 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $32,610 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $44,860 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $66,360 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $78,160 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 40,680 Waiter / Waitress jobs in Colorado (occupation code 35-3031, “Waiters and Waitresses”).
Gross vs. take-home in Colorado
A median Waiter / Waitress salary of $44,860 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Colorado state income tax, a single filer keeps about $36,960 — an effective tax rate of 17.6%.
| Gross (median) | $44,860 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,203 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,432 |
| Colorado state income tax | −$1,265 |
| Take-home (annual) | $36,960 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,080 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Colorado paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Waiter / Waitress make in Colorado?
- The median Waiter / Waitress salary in Colorado is $44,860 per year ($21.57 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $32,610 and $66,360.
- What is the take-home pay for a Waiter / Waitress in Colorado?
- On the median salary of $44,860, a single filer in Colorado takes home about $36,960 per year ($3,080 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 17.6%.
- How many Waiter / Waitress jobs are there in Colorado?
- BLS counts 40,680 Waiter / Waitress jobs in Colorado in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Waiter / Waitresss
Other salaries in Colorado
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Colorado state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Colorado.