Waiters and Waitresses Salary
In Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO, waiters and waitresses earn $39,650 at the median, or about $19.06 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers.
So what does $40K get you in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
About waiters and waitresses
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Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for waiters and waitresses in metros near Denver-Aurora-Centennial, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | $46K | , |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $47K | , |
| Boulder | $50K | , |
| Greeley | $46K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Entry-level waiters and waitresses (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Waiters and Waitresses pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Waiters and Waitresses salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $62K | +77% | 14,090 |
| Vermont | $59K | +68% | 4,040 |
| Washington | $56K | +59% | 45,400 |
| Oregon | $48K | +37% | 23,040 |
| District of Columbia | $48K | +36% | 11,530 |
| New York | $47K | +33% | 142,940 |
| New Jersey | $45K | +28% | 55,800 |
| Colorado | $45K | +27% | 40,680 |
| Virginia | $45K | +27% | 59,370 |
| Arizona | $44K | +25% | 55,950 |
| Maine | $43K | +23% | 9,090 |
| Massachusetts | $38K | +9% | 54,670 |
| New Hampshire | $38K | +9% | 10,030 |
| Connecticut | $38K | +7% | 22,370 |
| Michigan | $38K | +7% | 65,090 |
| New Mexico | $37K | +5% | 12,740 |
| Delaware | $37K | +5% | 7,580 |
| Maryland | $37K | +4% | 38,120 |
| Ohio | $37K | +4% | 77,250 |
| Florida | $36K | +3% | 207,180 |
| Kansas | $36K | +3% | 19,480 |
| California | $36K | +2% | 229,970 |
| Rhode Island | $35K | +1% | 10,160 |
| West Virginia | $35K | +0% | 8,600 |
| Pennsylvania | $35K | -2% | 82,300 |
| Nebraska | $34K | -4% | 13,310 |
| North Carolina | $32K | -9% | 71,940 |
| Illinois | $31K | -11% | 72,900 |
| Utah | $31K | -12% | 17,790 |
| North Dakota | $31K | -12% | 5,250 |
| Idaho | $30K | -15% | 10,950 |
| Wisconsin | $30K | -16% | 36,220 |
| Kentucky | $30K | -16% | 27,150 |
| Missouri | $29K | -17% | 41,640 |
| South Dakota | $29K | -18% | 7,350 |
| Indiana | $28K | -19% | 43,620 |
| Tennessee | $28K | -21% | 52,120 |
| Alabama | $27K | -24% | 28,760 |
| Nevada | $26K | -25% | 42,520 |
| Alaska | $26K | -25% | 3,830 |
| Minnesota | $25K | -28% | 37,630 |
| Arkansas | $25K | -30% | 17,880 |
| Wyoming | $24K | -32% | 3,620 |
| Montana | $23K | -34% | 7,200 |
| Texas | $23K | -34% | 199,610 |
| Mississippi | $21K | -39% | 15,190 |
| Iowa | $21K | -40% | 22,410 |
| Georgia | $19K | -47% | 76,470 |
| South Carolina | $18K | -48% | 47,200 |
| Oklahoma | $18K | -49% | 27,000 |
| Louisiana | $15K | -57% | 33,870 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 states
Track waiters and waitresses salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Denver-Aurora-Centennial numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
What’s the entry-level salary for waiters and waitresses in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new waiters and waitresses typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,861/month.
Is waiters and waitress a high-paying job in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $40K here vs. $35K nationally.
How does Denver-Aurora-Centennial compare to the national average for waiters and waitresses?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays $40K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s +13%.
How much do waiters and waitresses make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median is $39,650 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,010, and experienced waiters and waitresses can clear $78,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,679/month after taxes. Rent data is not available for this area.
How far does a waiters and waitresses salary go in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial 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 $39,650 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.