Salaries › Waiter / Waitress › Rhode Island
Waiter / Waitress Salary in Rhode Island (2026)
$17.03 per hour · take-home ≈ $29,732/year ($2,478/month) for a single filer
Waiter / Waitress pay range in Rhode Island
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $31,200 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $35,420 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $50,840 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $62,680 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 10,160 Waiter / Waitress jobs in Rhode Island (occupation code 35-3031, “Waiters and Waitresses”).
Gross vs. take-home in Rhode Island
A median Waiter / Waitress salary of $35,420 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Rhode Island state income tax, a single filer keeps about $29,732 — an effective tax rate of 16.1%.
| Gross (median) | $35,420 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,070 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,710 |
| Rhode Island state income tax | −$908 |
| Take-home (annual) | $29,732 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,478 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Rhode Island paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Waiter / Waitress make in Rhode Island?
- The median Waiter / Waitress salary in Rhode Island is $35,420 per year ($17.03 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $31,200 and $50,840.
- What is the take-home pay for a Waiter / Waitress in Rhode Island?
- On the median salary of $35,420, a single filer in Rhode Island takes home about $29,732 per year ($2,478 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.1%.
- How many Waiter / Waitress jobs are there in Rhode Island?
- BLS counts 10,160 Waiter / Waitress jobs in Rhode Island in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Waiter / Waitresss
Other salaries in Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island.