Waiters and Waitresses Salary in Ann Arbor, MI
In Ann Arbor, MI, waiters and waitresses earn $36,360 at the median — $17.48 an hour. The range runs from $23K at the entry level to $64K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.88), that's roughly $36,043 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,656/month — about 66.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $36K get you in Ann Arbor?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Ann Arbor’s Regional Price Parity (100.88). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About waiters and waitresses
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ann Arbor, MI
Entry-level waiters and waitresses (10th percentile) start around $23K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $64K or more, a $41K spread from bottom to top.
Waiters and Waitresses pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | $61K | +80% | 3,730 |
| Hawaii | $49K | +44% | 13,830 |
| Washington | $47K | +41% | 43,720 |
| New York | $46K | +38% | 140,890 |
| District of Columbia | $46K | +36% | 10,540 |
| Maine | $45K | +32% | 8,540 |
| Rhode Island | $43K | +26% | 11,010 |
| New Hampshire | $39K | +16% | 10,840 |
| New Jersey | $39K | +15% | 56,560 |
| Virginia | $37K | +10% | 61,260 |
| Arizona | $37K | +9% | 55,010 |
| Connecticut | $36K | +8% | 21,720 |
| Massachusetts | $36K | +8% | 50,160 |
| Ohio | $36K | +7% | 76,260 |
| Michigan | $36K | +6% | 64,920 |
| California | $35K | +5% | 243,300 |
| Maryland | $35K | +4% | 37,680 |
| Nebraska | $34K | +1% | 12,930 |
| Oregon | $34K | +1% | 22,920 |
| Delaware | $34K | -0% | 8,040 |
| Kansas | $32K | -7% | 20,290 |
| Idaho | $31K | -10% | 11,590 |
| New Mexico | $30K | -10% | 13,370 |
| West Virginia | $30K | -10% | 9,190 |
| Pennsylvania | $30K | -10% | 82,920 |
| Utah | $30K | -12% | 18,030 |
| Florida | $30K | -12% | 208,920 |
| North Dakota | $29K | -13% | 5,290 |
| Illinois | $29K | -14% | 84,550 |
| South Dakota | $29K | -14% | 7,080 |
| Wisconsin | $29K | -14% | 39,510 |
| North Carolina | $28K | -16% | 74,110 |
| Tennessee | $28K | -16% | 53,400 |
| Texas | $28K | -17% | 210,170 |
| Indiana | $27K | -19% | 43,880 |
| Alaska | $27K | -19% | 3,980 |
| Missouri | $27K | -20% | 43,360 |
| Arkansas | $26K | -22% | 17,820 |
| Iowa | $26K | -23% | 21,440 |
| Wyoming | $25K | -25% | 3,710 |
| Nevada | $25K | -26% | 39,910 |
| Minnesota | $24K | -28% | 38,540 |
| Montana | $23K | -33% | 7,630 |
| Kentucky | $22K | -34% | 27,800 |
| Alabama | $22K | -35% | 28,540 |
| Mississippi | $20K | -40% | 16,160 |
| Georgia | $20K | -41% | 71,870 |
| Oklahoma | $20K | -41% | 26,460 |
| South Carolina | $19K | -45% | 43,730 |
| Louisiana | $17K | -50% | 33,170 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track waiters and waitresses salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make in Ann Arbor, MI?
The median is $36,360 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $22,730, and experienced waiters and waitresses can clear $63,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Ann Arbor?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,476/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,656/month, which eats 66.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a waiters and waitresses salary go in Ann Arbor?
Ann Arbor has a Regional Price Parity of 100.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median waiters and waitresses salary is worth about $36,043 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do waiters and waitresses get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.