Waiters and Waitresses Salary
In Colorado, waiters and waitresses earn $44,860 at the median, or about $21.57 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $45K get you in Colorado?
About waiters and waitresses
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level waiters and waitresses (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Waiters and Waitresses salary by metro in Colorado
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $50K | +11% | 2,670 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $47K | +6% | 2,740 |
| Greeley | $46K | +4% | 1,300 |
| Colorado Springs | $46K | +3% | 4,330 |
| Pueblo | $46K | +1% | 850 |
| Grand Junction | $44K | -3% | 1,020 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $40K | -12% | 20,750 |
Compare to other states
Track waiters and waitresses salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
What’s the entry-level salary for waiters and waitresses in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new waiters and waitresses typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,848/month.
Is waiters and waitress a high-paying job in Colorado?
Local pay is 27% above the national median — $45K here vs. $35K nationally.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for waiters and waitresses?
Colorado pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s +27%.
How much do waiters and waitresses make in Colorado?
The median is $44,860 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,800, and experienced waiters and waitresses can clear $78,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,009/month after taxes. Rent data is not available for this area.
How far does a waiters and waitresses salary go in Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median waiters and waitresses salary is worth about $44,860 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.