Waiters and Waitresses Salary
In Washington, waiters and waitresses earn $56,130 at the median, or about $26.98 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $95K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $55,024 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 46.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $56K get you in Washington?
About waiters and waitresses
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for waiters and waitresses, local pay runs about 59% higher than the U.S. median of $35K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 46.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level waiters and waitresses (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $56K. Top earners bring in $95K or more, a $58K spread from bottom to top.
Waiters and Waitresses salary by metro in Washington
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $57K | +2% | 26,530 |
| Walla Walla | $57K | +1% | 340 |
| Bellingham | $57K | +1% | 1,450 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $55K | -2% | 1,370 |
| Longview-Kelso | $55K | -2% | 410 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $53K | -5% | 830 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $53K | -6% | 1,410 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $51K | -8% | 1,510 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $50K | -11% | 960 |
| Yakima | $49K | -13% | 1,000 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $49K | -13% | 3,420 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a waiters and waitress afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $56K, rent takes 46.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new waiters and waitresses typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,203/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 83% 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 Washington?
Local pay is 59% above the national median — $56K here vs. $35K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for waiters and waitresses?
Washington pays $56K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s +59%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do waiters and waitresses make in Washington?
The median is $56,130 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,710, and experienced waiters and waitresses can clear $94,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $56K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,928/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 46.6% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (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 $55,024 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.