Waiters and Waitresses Salary
In New Hampshire, waiters and waitresses earn $38,430 at the median, or about $18.48 an hour. The range runs from $21K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.66), so that salary is closer to $36,371 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,528/month, about 55.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Hampshire. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $38K get you in New Hampshire?
About waiters and waitresses
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What this looks like in New Hampshire
Waiters and waitresses pay in New Hampshire tracks closely to the national median, $38K locally vs. $35K nationwide, a 9% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,528/month, which is 55.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.66), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Hampshire
Entry-level waiters and waitresses (10th percentile) start around $21K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $52K spread from bottom to top.
Waiters and Waitresses salary by metro in New Hampshire
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester-Nashua | $38K | +0% | 2,590 |
Compare to other states
Track waiters and waitresses salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Hampshire numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a waiters and waitress afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Hampshire?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 55.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,528/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for waiters and waitresses in New Hampshire?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new waiters and waitresses typically earn — is $21K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,264/month. At HUD’s $1,528/month FMR, rent would take 121% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is waiters and waitress a high-paying job in New Hampshire?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $38K locally vs. $35K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does New Hampshire compare to the national average for waiters and waitresses?
New Hampshire pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $36K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do waiters and waitresses make in New Hampshire?
The median is $38,430 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $21,060, and experienced waiters and waitresses can clear $72,810. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in New Hampshire?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,743/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,528/month, which eats 55.7% 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 New Hampshire?
New Hampshire has a Regional Price Parity of 105.66 (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 $36,371 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.