Salaries › Waiter / Waitress › Washington
Waiter / Waitress Salary in Washington (2026)
$26.98 per hour · take-home ≈ $47,280/year ($3,940/month) for a single filer
Waiter / Waitress pay range in Washington
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $36,710 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $45,910 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $56,130 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $73,840 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $94,930 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 45,400 Waiter / Waitress jobs in Washington (occupation code 35-3031, “Waiters and Waitresses”).
Gross vs. take-home in Washington
A median Waiter / Waitress salary of $56,130 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare (no state income tax in Washington), a single filer keeps about $47,280 — an effective tax rate of 15.8%.
| Gross (median) | $56,130 |
| Federal income tax | −$4,556 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,294 |
| Washington state income tax | −$0 |
| Take-home (annual) | $47,280 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,940 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Washington paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Waiter / Waitress make in Washington?
- The median Waiter / Waitress salary in Washington is $56,130 per year ($26.98 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $45,910 and $73,840.
- What is the take-home pay for a Waiter / Waitress in Washington?
- On the median salary of $56,130, a single filer in Washington takes home about $47,280 per year ($3,940 per month) after federal tax, FICA — an effective tax rate of 15.8%.
- How many Waiter / Waitress jobs are there in Washington?
- BLS counts 45,400 Waiter / Waitress jobs in Washington in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Waiter / Waitresss
Other salaries in Washington
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 Washington 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 Washington.